Why Consistency Matters More Than Talent: A Story Still in Progress

Why Consistency Matters More Than Talent: A Story Still in Progress

I'm not a success story. At least, not yet. I'm just someone who kept going — and this is what that actually looked like.

My English isn't great — and honestly, even after years of working as a nurse in Canada, it's still my biggest challenge every single day. My grades during my RPN program weren't something to brag about either.

I'm just someone who kept going. That's it.

From waiting tables to moving boxes

When I first started out in Canada, I worked a lot of different jobs. Waiter at Korean restaurants, ramen shops, sushi places. Gardening. Briefly at a moving company. All while going to school.

I also moved. A lot. Whenever I went back to Korea or traveled somewhere, paying rent on an empty room felt like a waste — so I'd pack up and find somewhere cheaper. Between 2013 and 2019, I moved seven times in six years.

Was it comfortable? No. But I didn't wait for things to get comfortable. I just kept going.

Language school → Pre-health → RPN → Still not done

While working those jobs, I kept studying. Language school first. Then Pre-health. Then my RPN program. One step at a time, nothing dramatic.

After becoming a nurse, I kept applying for other positions — consistently, even when I didn't feel qualified. Eventually I landed a role at Sunnybrook, one of the largest hospitals in Toronto — something I honestly didn't think was possible for me at the time.

I've been there for seven years now, working across different units and patient populations. No single specialty — just a lot of ground covered.

And this part matters to me: that experience is what eventually led to my current ADOC role in long-term care. No prior management experience. Every other ADOC around me is an RN. I'm the only RPN in the role. I didn't get there through credentials — I got there through seven years of hands-on clinical experience. I still work at Sunnybrook as a casual RPN alongside the ADOC position.

When the career had to slow down

After getting married and having kids — two now — actively upgrading my career wasn't always realistic. During that time, I tried other things. Online selling. Facebook live sales. A YouTube Shorts channel.

Most of it didn't work. Some of it failed completely. But I kept trying things anyway — not because I had a plan, but because going completely still felt worse.

Where I am now

My second child is almost old enough for daycare, so I'm slowly getting some time back. I've started preparing for RN bridging, continuing my nursing career in Canada one step at a time. This blog is part of that too.

There are still real barriers — my English, my grades, the academic requirements. Some days it feels like I'm always a step behind. But I keep going anyway.

Just someone who didn't stop.

One small step today. That's enough.

And tomorrow, I'll do it again.