I recently applied for a position as a coach/counselor at Rite of Passage, a high school for at-risk juvenile boys.
When I saw the posting for the position on Craigslist, I became excited.
When I applied for the job, I was ecstatic. I told many of the people close to me about my application submission, even though I had not yet scheduled an interview.
When they called me to schedule an interview a few days later, I could barely keep a large smile off of my face.
When I drove 90 minutes from Reno to Yerington for the actual interview, and nailed it, I started telling everyone who would hear me out: “I would love to have this job. I can’t wait until they call me back.” While I was there, I met two boys in the program who attended my middle school and high school in Las Vegas. Coincidence? No. “Destiny,” I thought.
I loved sports and loved advising young people even more. I’m a believer that every person on this earth has good in them, but their environment plays a large role in how they turn out. Some of these young boys were doomed for the poor path they were currently trekking. But I wanted to change that. I wanted to be a role model for them and show them better.
Then Wednesday, June 6 came along. One of the biggest days of my life.
While I was at my second day of work as social media manager at Dreams Realty Real Estate Agency, I received a phone call from Rite of Passage. I listened to their voicemail after work and got the news I had long been waiting for — the news I thought would be the first part of the rest of my life in helping others: “Juan…we’d like to offer you a position as a coach/counselor with us.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I was so excited to tell everyone I knew, announce it on Facebook (because it’s not official until it’s Facebook official), and get started with the first step in my post-college life.
So I strolled into my boss’ office before leaving to say bye. After chatting with Terry for a bit, I decided to tell her about my job offer. Since she was my current boss, I felt I owed it to her to let her know about what I’d be doing next in life. Since I’m only contracted with Dreams Realty through the end of June, there was no conflict for me with regards to having a job offer.
So I told her about the position.
And she told me things that changed my life.
Without getting into detail about what she told me, she let it be known she thought that position was not for me. She knew a lot about Rite of Passage and thought I could achieve a lot more on a larger scale. I was destined for greater things.
It blew my mind.
This job was all I could think about for weeks and when it was finally offered to me, something came along in my life that attempted to nudge me in a different direction.
So, like always, I started to over-analyze everything that happened.
I didn’t have to apply for this contractual position at Dreams Realty when I saw a posting for it on Craigslist.
I didn’t have to tell Terry about my job opportunity before I left on that fateful day.
She didn’t have to talk to me about what she thought about Rite of Passage.
I didn’t have to take her suggestions into consideration and decline the job offer.
But I did. And she did.
Everything happens for a reason and I may be ignorant to a lot of things on earth, but I know when God is sending me a message.
I crossed paths with Terry at this exact moment in my life for a reason. She altered my near future for a reason.
Like always, I don’t know what that reason is…
But I do know that it’s meant to enhance my eventual destiny..