I wanted more flexibility and freedom, so I quit my stable job and took up a freelance technical job. My family, especially my mother, were worried and didn’t understand my choices. Through trial and error, I eventually found a stable career in the industry. Freelance technology world.
I was lucky enough to find a job as an IT support intern right out of college. full time employment. For three years, I followed the most expected path. In the end, I felt stuck and chose to quit.
That one decision set in motion many things, including a complete change in the way I looked at work.
My mother was the first to express her concerns. She always envisioned a traditional life for me. stable jobmarriage, and family. But I wanted something different.
“Samedi, where are you going?” she asked when she heard the news. I shared an outline of my plans, but kept the details private.
In Africa, where I live, stable employment is seen as the cornerstone of success. my Deciding to become a freelancer It was culturally dissonant.
Pressure mounted as relatives mobilized to “help.” My cousin has offered a job at a major telecommunications company. Family members called with job offers, all well-intentioned but beside the point. I wasn’t looking for another traditional role.
I asked for something they couldn’t understand: freedom Build a borderless career.
Jumping into freelance work wasn’t easy
No one in my family had gone down this path before, so I had no role models. I had to do most of this myself.
Becoming a freelancer hasn’t been easy. When I quit my job, all I had was no savings And I suffered for months. It was a humbling experience.
After a year, I decided to move countries and needed a soft landing to get used to the new culture. That’s when I decided to return to full-time work. I took a junior web developer position at a media company. It felt like a fresh start, but the role wasn’t what I expected. The demands were persistent—late at night; weekend shifttight deadlines. I was physically exhausted from working long hours, suffered from burnout, and became increasingly frustrated.
Eventually, the job that once seemed like an opportunity becomes a burden, and it’s time to move on.
I submitted a letter of resignationmy managing director asked me, “Where are you going?”
This is a simple question in traditional work cultures where careers follow a linear path. but, gig economythe answer is not always neat. I gave vague answers about joining another company, but to tell you the truth, I came back into the unknown to try my hand at freelancing again. Having tasted the freedom of freelancing, I wanted to do it again. Thankfully, this time we received even more help from our customers.
Eventually I found stability in flexibility.
My second try as a freelancer was much more successful. web designer, content marketercopy editor, technical writer. Currently working as a content marketer and digital career coach.
This diversity is simply the nature of modern technology jobs. Each role has added to my skillset, allowing me to serve clients across time zones.
It hasn’t been easy, but building a career outside of a traditional role has been rewarding and liberating. Every opportunity has helped me grow my skill set. What I built was stable career In my own way.
It takes time to bridge the gap between generations
Still, my mother’s skepticism comes from care and experience. In Africa, where economic stability is precarious, her preference for traditional employment is understandable. Although I have built a successful career as a freelancer, both my girlfriend and my family are still confused about what I do for a living.
But the nature of work is evolving. When companies downsize or restructure, freelancers with diverse clients can adapt faster than those tied to one employer. I feel more secure in my career now than ever before, and I hope that one day my family understands that too.
I just realized that the future is borderless. younger generation Like me, we are becoming global citizens who work across time zones and cultures in ways our parents never imagined.
The question is no longer “Where are we going?” But, “How far can it reach?”
