Anxiety Aunt: Help! I’ve studied for four years and scored the job of my dreams but I hate it

Dear Aunty,

I have started at my first real job which I thought was my dream job but I am finding it tough as the things they are asking me to do go against my religious principles and also my own morals. But I am worried if I quit this job I will never work in the industry again — it is a competitive industry and throwing away an opportunity like the one I have would be frowned upon. There’s also the added problem that my university studies were in this specific area and I am not sure what else I could do as an alternative? Should I stick with my job and hope things improve or leave and possibly throw away my fledgling career?

Yours, Uncertain

Dear Uncertain,

Nothing in life is a given my dear. And while you thought this might be the right industry, perhaps it is not. But that doesn’t mean the skills you have and the experience you’ve gained won’t stand you in good stead in another job in the same industry or another one.

One has always found it quite baffling that children are meant to have their lives mapped out before they are out of their teens and aren’t reassured that life is a marathon, not a race. You don’t have to sprint to get to where you are going. In fact you can do a steeplechase, an obstacle course, you can run 20km in the wrong direction and turn back and start again and you will still get where you are meant to be.

The main thing is not to give up. Keep pursuing your goals and keep pushing forward. Don’t let a hurdle, minor setback or speed bump knock you off course. Get up, brush yourself off and get on to the next thing. Soon you’ll discover that kind of attitude and resilience will stand you in better stead in the employment market than almost any other attributes or qualifications.

Now One is going to let you into a little secret, Uncertain. Your Aunt’s life hasn’t exactly gone as One thought it might. Of course One was passionate about dancing and One spent several years travelling the world as part of a successful cancan troupe but you can’t dance forever. Well you can, but no one would be paying to see it.

Also, shall we say, the celebratory life of a dancer is not exactly conducive to saving. That’s why so many of us spent so much time and effort trying to bag ourselves a billionaire. Obviously your Aunt was unsuccessful in that regard but One has never been the type who can fake it if One is not feeling it. And One has never stooped to kissing frogs in the hope they might morph into something magical.

So after the dancing One had to come up with a plan B and when that didn’t pan out, One tried plan C to Z. One will never be rolling in cash but One has managed to carve out a modestly successful life without resorting to a role that would zap the life and creative energy out of One such as Oneself, who was never really cut out for the nine to five grind.

In latter years, One has manged to earn some tidy spending money from writing this very column and the odd eulogy, though that work has really dried up of late. But never fear, winter is near.

So long story short, my dear. Don’t stress too much, you have a long working life ahead of you and plenty of time to work it all out. If your current job isn’t for you then cast your net out and see if you can find something that suits you better. After all, you know what they say, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.