Quitting While You’re Ahead

I submitted my resignation letter to my former employer on February 1st, 2016.

From what I was told, it was the first time any hall director had straight up quit in a long time (at least 3 or 4 years according to my co-workers). For those of you who are unfamiliar with the student affairs world, there comes a time during the Spring to fill out "Intent to Return" forms. Basically it is a form that notifies your employer whether or not you intend to stay or go. Historically, most people either stay put or tactfully say something along the lines of "I am job searching but will return if nothing pans out."

I quit. Respectfully. 

I quit without any job interviews pending. I quit without any offers lined up. I quit without any plan A, B, or C. It was not meant to be a bold maneuver but merely served as a last ditch effort to reclaim what was left of my self-confidence. I went from being the bright and shiny NASPA Region 3 Graduate Student of the Year to overrated, overwhelmed new professional who just got her ego checked and butt handed to her.  I do not know what it was exactly or when it happened, but at some point during my time in Virginia, I became wildly unhappy. I was not living up to expectations. I knew my personal and professional life was suffering. I was not the supervisor I wanted to be for my RAs. I knew they deserved better and I constantly felt like I was failing. I was told by all my seasoned professional friends that your first year as a new professional was always the hardest...but damn! Did it have to be so excruciatingly hard? Did it have to be so overwhelming that you lose sight of who you are? You tell me.

So after what felt like an eternity of processing with friends, supervisors, and trusted mentors in the field, I came to the conclusion that:

My job and I were simply not a good fit.

It was not the people, the functional role, the department, the city, or any other external factors. If anything, the people (my co-workers and students) where the only things that kept me there until the very end. It was me. I take accountability for not being stronger, not living up to my potential, not working hard enough, and not advocating for myself. I do not blame my previous institution for my own shortcomings. All of these difficult learning moments were necessary hurdles in my own development as a more purposeful, self-aware person.

I regret nothing.

I am not going to lie, I was afraid that my decision would cause some uncomfortable fall out. I was prepared for the naysayers and disapproving looks.  Despite a few small victories here and there, I felt that I had failed at my job and decided to quit while I was ahead. But instead of the negative responses I had anticipated, I was met with the utmost positive regards!

"Wow you are so brave!"

"I wish I could do that!"

"Good for you!"

"You should work in Europe!"

"Ahhh I am so jealous!"

"How liberating! Now you can go on an adventure!"

So what happened next?

My partner of four years and I broke up. In the midst of quitting my job and quitting my relationship, I decided to embark upon an Eat Pray Love inspired journey to Europe to “find myself.” The summation of all this is that I left Virginia on a Tuesday. I had an interview in Georgia (for my future job) on a Wednesday. I drove home to Texas on a Thursday. I flew to London on a Friday. And on cloudy Saturday morning, I finally decided to forgive myself and never look back.

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Meg Sunga is currently a Residence Life Coordinator at Augusta University and serves as the NASPA Region III NUFP Chair. She loves to travel, hammock, and write in her blog, The Serendipity Series. You can keep up with Meg and all of her unexpected adventures at www.seredipity-series.com.