"The vet looked at me and said, 'It might be time to think about saying goodbye.'" Max stopped eating four days ago. Stopped getting up. I'd already started preparing myself. Then Buddy did something I will never forget. He climbed up on that exam table — something he's NEVER allowed to do — and he wouldn't stop pressing his face against Max's. The vet tech tried to gently move him away. Buddy wouldn't budge. And then, for the first time in four days — Max lifted his head. The vet just stood there. Didn't say a word. We're not out of the woods. The vet wants to run more tests tomorrow. But tonight, Max ate three bites of food. Tonight, Max is still here. I don't know what tomorrow holds. But I know I watched a Labrador refuse to let his best friend give up. If you believe dogs fight for each other the way they fight for us — drop a ❤️ for Max and Buddy tonight. He needs all the strength he can get.
HR: "If hired, what's your earliest possible start date?"
Please don't say things like :
❌ I will start ASAP
❌ Can I start in 2 months?
Say this Instead :
✅ If you're currently employed:
"I'd like to give a proper 2-3 week notice to my current employer so I can maintain strong relationships. I'm excited about the role and flexible if needed."
✅ If you're unemployed:
"I'm available to start within 1-2 weeks. That gives me time to prepare so I can be fully ready on day one."
✅ If you need more time:
→ "I'd ideally like to start on [date]. I have a prior commitment and want to make sure I can begin the role fully focused."
These answers show:
✔ professionalism
✔ respect for relationships preparedness
✔ clear communication
And they keep the offer conversation moving forward.
Interviewer: "What is your expected salary?"
🔴 Wrong Answer:
Candidate: "I haven't really thought about it. I'm okay with whatever you offer."
✅ Correct Answer:
Candidate: "Based on my research and considering my experience, skills, and the industry standard, I'm looking for a salary in the range of [specific range]. In my previous role at [Previous Company], I gained extensive experience in [relevant skills/industry], which has prepared me well for this position. I believe this range reflects my qualifications and the value I can bring to your team."
🔵 Correct Answer:
Candidate: "I would expect a salary that is in line with the market rate for this position and my level of experience. For instance, in my last role at [Previous Company], my salary was [specific amount], and considering my additional skills and the responsibilities of this new role, I believe a salary in the range of [specific range] would be appropriate."
🟢 Correct Answer:
Candidate: "I’ve done some research on the typical salary for this role in this region and, considering my background and the demands of the job, I’m looking for a salary in the range of [specific range]. At [Previous Company], I had the opportunity to enhance my skills in [relevant skills], which I believe adds value to this role and justifies this expectation."
For CV revamp, email your current CV via [email protected] with subject 'Revamp '
HR: "If hired, what's your earliest possible start date?"
Please don't say things like :
❌ I will start ASAP
❌ Can I start in 2 months?
Say this Instead :
✅ If you're currently employed:
"I'd like to give a proper 2-3 week notice to my current employer so I can maintain strong relationships. I'm excited about the role and flexible if needed."
✅ If you're unemployed:
"I'm available to start within 1-2 weeks. That gives me time to prepare so I can be fully ready on day one."
✅ If you need more time:
→ "I'd ideally like to start on [date]. I have a prior commitment and want to make sure I can begin the role fully focused."
These answers show:
✔ professionalism
✔ respect for relationships preparedness
✔ clear communication
And they keep the offer conversation moving forward.
NOT AN ACCIDENT, but if you're seeing this on December 27th, the winning era begins for you. Relationships. Health. Wealth. Everythiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing gets better from here. You're so lucky.
“My dad called at midnight to tell me our dog refused to die until I came home. I thought he was guilt-tripping me. I was wrong.
I was three hours away, drowning in spreadsheets and half-finished coffee. My first thought wasn’t concern; it was calculation. I had a 9:00 AM briefing. I had dry cleaning to pick up. I had a life that didn’t include late-night drives to the suburbs to watch a dog sleep.
"Dad, he’s fourteen," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Just make him comfortable. I’ll come this weekend."
There was a silence on the line so heavy it felt like static.
"He’s not in his bed, Mark," my dad said, his voice cracking in a way I hadn’t heard since Mom passed. "He’s in the garage. By the truck. He won’t let me move him. He’s waiting for the driver."
That hit me.
I grabbed my keys.
The drive was a blur of interstate lights and regret. I thought about Rusty. He was a Golden Retriever mix we’d adopted the summer before my junior year of high school. Back then, the world was small: it was just me, my dad, and that beat-up red pickup truck.
We went everywhere in that truck. Fishing trips, hardware store runs, and aimless drives just to burn gas and talk about girls. I drove. Dad rode shotgun. And Rusty? Rusty was the self-appointed captain of the backseat, head out the window, ears flapping like flags in the wind.
When I pulled into the driveway, the house looked smaller than I remembered. The lawn was a little overgrown. The porch light flickered.
I didn't go to the front door. I went straight to the garage.
The air smelled like gasoline, sawdust, and old memories. And there he was.
Rusty was lying on the cold concrete, curled up tight against the driver’s side door of the truck. His golden fur was matted and grey at the muzzle. He was breathing in shallow, ragged hitches.
"He’s been there for two days," my dad said from the shadows. He looked older, too. "I tried to carry him inside. He snapped at me. He dragged himself here."
I knelt beside Rusty. "Hey, buddy," I whispered.
His tail gave a weak, singular thump against the tire. He didn't open his eyes, but he let out a long, shuddering sigh. He knew I was there.
I looked up at the truck window and froze.
Draped over the steering wheel was my old varsity jacket. The leather sleeves were cracked, the wool faded.
"I put it there," my dad admitted, looking down at his boots. "Every afternoon at 5:00, I come out here. I put your jacket on the wheel. I roll the windows down. I turn on the radio to that classic rock station you liked. We just... sit here. Me and him. It was the only way I could get him to eat. He thinks you're just inside paying for gas. He thinks we’re going somewhere."
My throat felt like I’d swallowed a handful of gravel.
I realized then that for the last ten years—while I was chasing promotions and "building a life"—my dad and my dog had been living in a time capsule. They were holding onto the ghost of the boy who used to drive them around.
Rusty wasn't guarding a truck. He was holding his post. He was keeping the seat warm. He was protecting the pack until the leader came back.
I knew what I had to do.
I didn't try to move him. instead, I opened the driver's door. I climbed in, careful not to disturb him. I put on the varsity jacket. It was tight in the shoulders now.
I put the key in the ignition and turned it.
The engine coughed, sputtered, and then roared to life with that familiar, rattling hum. The garage filled with the smell of exhaust and unburnt fuel.
I rolled down the window.
"Hop in, Dad," I said.
My dad wiped his eyes and climbed into the passenger seat.
For the next hour, we didn't go anywhere. We just sat in the idling truck in a closed garage with the door open to the night air. I put my hand out the window and rested it on Rusty’s head.
The vibration of the engine seemed to soothe him. The familiar rumble. The smell of the exhaust. The crew was back together.
no one can really prepare u pala talaga for how lonely this transition would be. after grad, your friends really do have different directions, and you’ll often feel alone trying to pursue something :')))
Alam n’yo ‘yung feeling na hindi ka naman pinipressure ng parents mo, pero you still feel pressured because you’re not getting any younger? Your batchmates and friends already have stable jobs, families, and are able to help their own families — while you’re still here, feeling like a burden because you can’t do anything yet. It feels like your life is stagnant. No improvements, no progress.
I don’t even know anymore. Sorry, I just want to rant. It’s also hard because you don’t really have anyone to talk to. You want to tell your family that you’re tired, that you can’t handle it anymore, but you can’t because they’re dealing with their own problems too. So all you can do is keep it to yourself.
I don’t have any friends here. Actually, I don’t really have a go-to friend in general. HAHAHA kaya pala. it’s already 10 PM — maybe that’s why I’m feeling this way. I’m also a bit disappointed with my exam results, so all these emotions are just mixing together.
That’s all. Hahaha. Don’t mind this. I just wanted to let it out. But if you got this far, thank you for reading my rant. Take care always 🤍