I was laid off from my dream tech job. It became the turning point that saved my health and my career.

I used to believe professional success required sacrificing everything. Now, I have a different perspective on failure and on my career.

Courtesy of Ashley Rivera Mercado

For most of my 20s, I chased one goal: breaking into tech. I loved my work in higher education and believed deeply in its mission, but something always pulled at me.I wanted to build products that shaped how people lived and learned. I craved a faster pace, bigger challenges, and proof that someone like me could succeed in an industry known for closing doors on outsiders.Every rejection made that dream feel further away, but I kept pushing. I felt confident that once I'd broken into tech and found the "right" job, I'd stick with it forever.When I finally landed the tech role I'd been working toward, it felt like vindication. I was proud, relieved, and confident that all the struggle had been worth it.What I didn't see was that I was stepping into this dream job at the exact moment my life was already collapsing under its own weight.I also didn't realize I was clinging to an outdated idea of what a career should look like.The dream and the burnout arrived together

Walking away was difficult and felt like admitting defeat, but it was the right decision for my well-being.