For the first time in my life, I thought my prayers were answered.
For the first time in my life, I was looking forward to a smooth sail.
Naively, I thought that it would be enough as long as I work hard.

Although I landed a job that pays me peanuts,
I had a to-die-for boss,
who gives me abundant opportunities to learn,
who puts me in contact with all the important people,
and who shows me the ropes with unparalleled patience.
I have wonderful colleagues who doesn't see teaching me as a chore,
who consoles me for my mistakes before working their asses off to try to fix it for me.

To me, these are the important things that drive me, that keeps me going.
These are the sources of strength that propels me to wake up at 6.15am in the morning,
to work till the figures don't make sense anymore before I reluctantly retire to bed.
These are the people I work my ass off for,
because I want to exceed their expectations.
So I threw everything I have into my work for them.

I believe in fair meritocracy.
I believe that people aren't blind.
I believe that as long as you work hard, you'll be rewarded duly.

Unfortunately, things don't work that way in the real world.
They say that ethics is of utmost importance in a banker.
Good bankers are supposed to be upright.
Good bankers are supposed to be accountable for their actions.
And I thought only good bankers rise to the top.
But apparently,
the real world really isn't that different from dramatic Hongkong serials.
Good doesn't always triumph over evil.
People at the top aren't necessarily fair, upright individuals.
And you realise,
those aren't exactly the qualities people gotta have in order to make it to the top.

Ruthlessness,
Rationalism, and
Reputation are the three Rs that really matter in business.

And from tomorrow onwards,
I'm going to have to grow up and start to really work hard
for none other than
myself.