In college, I worked night shifts as a warehouse guard. The booth camera sent hourly photos to my boss, so one night I took a bunch of fake ones—different poses, different times—and skipped work for days. It worked until my boss, Mr. Arman, called me in.
He’d noticed the same lighting in every photo. Instead of firing me, he said, “Come with me tonight.” We spent the night handing out leftover bread to homeless people. He’d been doing it quietly for years.
That night changed me. I stopped faking shifts, started helping him regularly, and learned more about integrity than any class could teach.
Later, when I told this story in a job interview, I got hired immediately. Years after, I returned to that same warehouse—this time as the new supervisor. I started a program for students like me, combining flexible work with community service.
Lesson: Shortcuts fade fast. Showing up, even when no one’s watching, lasts forever.
