When you’re a public servant, it’s not just a job. It’s a calling, a community, a way of life. That makes it all the harder to imagine a different path. And moreso if you didn’t choose to leave.
I had never seriously considered any career outside of public service. Since I was a political science major at Stanford, I assumed I’d spend my life in government. That’s what made it so disorienting to realize the Foreign Service wasn’t the right long-term fit for me.
Government service requires a level of sacrifice that many Americans never see. In the Foreign Service, you uproot your life—and your family—every 2–3 years. You go wherever the Service needs you, often to hardship posts or conflict zones.
I served as a Consular Officer on the US–Mexico border during the height of cartel violence. We lived under curfew and heard gunfire at night. These were sacrifices I made because I believed deeply in America and what our country can offer the world.
That higher purpose made my job more than a paycheck. It made it part of who I was. And that’s what makes leaving—even involuntarily—so painful.
But over time, I learned something critical: your work does not define your worth. Your identity is bigger than any title, agency, or mission. You bring value to the world that goes far beyond the trappings of public service. This is important during layoffs and also when you have a bad boss.
One of the biggest mental barriers I faced was simply not being able to imagine a life beyond government. It felt unthinkable—until it wasn’t.
Since leaving the Foreign Service, I’ve found ways to keep that public service mindset alive. I served as a Planning Commissioner in Berkeley, working to strengthen local democracy—the same ideals I once championed abroad. I joined nonprofit boards like the Sierra Club. I tackled social impact challenges working as in transportation as an executive at Spin and Ford, and in energy innovation at Deloitte.
There are so many ways to make the world better, even in the private sector—and sometimes with even greater impact. Promoting social good from within large companies is an area I believe deserves more attention (probably a topic for another post).
If you’ve been impacted by government layoffs, please remember: this does not define you or your value. You have an identity that transcends any single job or institution.
I’d love to hear how public service has shaped your sense of self, and how you’ve navigated the question of what comes next. If you’re feeling stuck, I’m here to help you see that your skills, experience, and values are relevant far beyond government service.
If you’d like to read or share my shorter LinkedIn reflection on this, you’ll find it here.