I’m Thankful For Not Taking The Job At Insider…Find Out Why!

When I moved back from New York City to California after completing my masters program, it was an adjustment. It felt like I had to restart my life from scratch. My closest friends relocated to different parts of the U.S. and at the time, I had no job. Even with a degree from an Ivy League school, I was facing rejection one after another.

Initially, I took on two part-time jobs at two different local radio stations I once worked and interned at: KCBS and Bolly 92.3. But I didn't enjoy either of those roles. I wasn't learning anything new. I wasn't growing. Each day the hollowness in the pit of my stomach grew. I rarely ate. After I landed a full-time remote internship at KABC-TV, I quit both of my part-time jobs. During that internship, I recieved emails for an interview from two places I applied to a few months back: Insider & CAIR-SFBA.

Shortly after completing the interview process with CAIR-SFBA, I recieved an offer letter. But I was also yearning to work as a weekend editor for Insider. I had taken their writing test and the last thing that was left was an interview with their current weekend editor. I sent them an email telling them about my offer with CAIR-SFBA and asked them if they can expedite the hiring/interview process. Unfortunately, they told me they will not be able to make a decision in time but if my timeline changes, only then I can move forward with their application process but otherwise it will not be possible.

I pondered over their email and made dua (a call to prayer). I didn't want to decline the job offer I had because I didn't want to be in a position where I didn't have any job so I accepted the job offer with CAIR-SFBA and declined the one with Insider. At the time, I felt a tinge of remorse but I knew it was the right decision. Hindsight is 2020. And looking back at it, it was in fact, the right decision. Not because of the job itself or the pay but because of the people I met at CAIR-SFBA.

I'm thankful to Allah for listening to my duas and giving me Mayeena and Umber! They are everything to me. They mean everything to me. Umber was hired with me and within three months, we grew nearly inseparable. We shared everything with each other. From our political views to our issues with desi parents, men and dating apps. Then there was Mayeena. Bubbly and naive. She loved having her photos taken wherever we would go. Initially, I was quite irritated with that habit of hers but over the years, Umber and I have come to love it. She's taught us the value of making beautiful memories.

When it came to hanging out, initially we saw each other once or twice a month, then it was every few weeks and then eventually every week and now even twice or thrice a week. Finally MUA aka Mayeena, Umber and Arooba was born. Mayeena and Umber changed me in so many ways. Every conversation with them healed me. The old me never enjoyed drinking boba or getting nails done but that all changed with MUA. Now I do it all. I also never traveled with any of my former friends, but with them we did our first road trip to Carmel and it was amazing. We ate, shopped, laughed, took a tour with Alpacas, and created several memories with our non-stop photoshoots.

This year for my birthday, Umber, Mayeena with my brother Sully, planned a double celebration. I was barely expecting one but then they had two with the numbered balloons that I've always wanted, a cake with a great title topped off with a well-thought-out surprise (here's a link to the TikTok). No matter where I go and what I do, I know I can never find friends like Mayeena and Umber. Alhumdulilah for both of them and Shukaralhuldulilah to Allah Mia for giving me great friends. Honestly, we don't need too many friends, we just need one or two and they need to be right for us!

Here and there, we have our arguments and differences but ultimately, we love and respect each other. We communicate with each other. Without Mayeena and Umber and even Sully, I'm not sure where I'd be. Thank you for all that you do and for all that you've done! I love you both and I love MUA and I even love Sully!! Cheers to more MUA adventures inshallah! 🤗🤗🤗