Dear Former Colleagues,

You may remember me as the quiet, often confused and seemingly incapable employee who walked in on her first day, quiet and awkward and stayed that way for as long as you knew her.

Why? Because I was over-whelmed, feeling alone like an outsider. You could have changed that.

I know you’ve been there. I know that you were new once, too. And maybe you didn’t feel as out of place as I did. Regardless, you didn’t help.

A simple “Hello, what’s your name?” or “Do you need help finding something?” would have made a world of a difference. That little bit of effort may have made me feel welcomed, useful and as a real part of our staff. Maybe I’d look forward to going to work just a little bit more. Maybe I’d feel more comfortable while at work.

But most of you did not approach me. Most of you did not say something as you witnessed me awkwardly struggling. Most of you didn't seem to care that I was even there.

And in all honesty, it sucked. It made me want to quit at the end of every shift.

But you taught me a lot. You taught me how to reach out and seek help. You taught me to step out of my comfort zone to make connections. You taught me to try to be more independent, innovative and resourceful.

Most importantly, you taught me to be welcoming. Next time I work with a new employee, I will try to make them feel like a part of my team. I will try to make them feel important and valuable. Because now I know how impactful simple friendliness can be.

So even though you didn't invite me into your tight-knit group of co-workers, I left that job feeling a lot more confident in myself and slightly more resilient.

Regardless of how left out I felt, I thank you for the experience you allowed me to have. And I hope the next new employee doesn't feel as an outsider as I did.

Yours,

A New Former-Employee