There’s something about working in retail that quietly shapes you. The long hours, the nonstop flow of people, and the pressure to stay calm no matter how bad the situation, it teaches you more about patience and communication than you realize in the moment.
When I started working at Primark, I was only a teenager, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was just happy to have a job. Over time, I learned how to handle the difficult and uncomfortable situations, connect with customers on a personal level, and keep things running smoothly at the store. But after four years, I began to feel like like something was missing.
Closing One Chapter
Primark recognized me a 4 Years of Service certificate.
This might seem like a minor accomplishment, but to me, it meant something. This certificate represented consistency, growth, and the ability to adapt. Retail taught me discipline, showing up on time, managing pressure, and keeping composure when things got hectic.
While these are all positives, that recognition came with a realization: I had outgrown the role. I wanted more than a routine. I wanted something that felt challenging again, something that felt meaningful.
Leaving wasn’t an easy decision. It meant stepping away from stability and familiarity. But deep down, I knew that staying comfortable was holding me back from growing, both professionally and mentally.
Finding A New Purpose
I went into substitute teaching completely blind, I had no idea of what to expect. This was a completely different environment, less structured, more unpredictable, but I also saw what seemed like endless potential.
Then first time I walked into a classroom and wrote “Mr. Soto” on the whiteboard, it truly felt surreal. In that moment, it hit me that I wasn’t just changing jobs, I was fully changing my direction.
It didn’t take long for teaching to become something deeper for me; Every day was a new challenge, in a completely new environment. Connecting with students, adapting to different classrooms, keeping everyone engaged. These are tasks that aren’t easy, but they’re rewarding in a way that retail could never be.
For the first time in years, I felt like I was doing something that matteres.
Lessons From The Journey
Looking back at my trajectory, I can see how each chapter built on the last:
• Retail taught me patience, customer empathy, and communication.
• Teaching is teaching me adaptability, leadership, and the importance of purpose.
• Data analytics builds on both, combining structure, curiosity, and the drive to make an impact.
Leaving retail wasn’t just about changing jobs. It was about trusting myself enough to start over. This experience has taught me that growth doesn’t always mean moving up, sometimes, it means stepping into something new.