In 2017, after finishing military service and a six-month pause to secure a reliable source of income, and following the repeated failures of various projects I had, I had no choice but to pack everything I had and go to Turkey. I worked for different companies for two and a half years, but I never had, or they never provided, the stability I needed. With the start of the COVID-19 era and the bankruptcy of the last company, I returned to Iran. Just a few weeks later, my current company offered me a position, and a three-and-a-half-year story began.

COVID ended, and I spent some time here and some time there until, in the last few months, I realized that my current fatigue and listlessness were caused by the conditions at this company. At the same time, I saw friends in much better situations than mine, even within the same Turkish companies, and almost everyone I knew had left this company while I stayed along with some juniors. From the beginning, I had promised myself that if everything went well, I wouldn’t move until I became the longest-standing employee in the company, and that’s exactly what happened. Now, after the founders, I am the longest-tenured employee.

But as I said, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and take the next step in my career, especially now that I’m no longer worried about income, rent in a foreign country, or any other financial matters.

My body and mind had been begging me for a year to leave, expressing this through various mental and emotional struggles, and I resisted. But a few days ago, I submitted my notice, and October 15 will be my last day at this company. The joy and relief I feel already are astonishing.

With this, the chapter of my life and migration in Turkey has come to an end, and now I am here, ready to start a new chapter.