In the world of remote work and virtual assistance, I’ve always believed in paying it forward.

Because once upon a time, someone gave me a chance, too.

That’s why when I started building my small team, I made it a point to offer fair compensation and personal mentorship especially to those who were just starting out and had zero knowledge about being a VA.

A few months ago, I hired someone part-time.

The agreement was simple: less than 15 hours a week, officially for formality’s sake, but in reality, the workload was light, sometimes barely an hour a day, sometimes even less depending on the task flow.

The offer was fair starting rate considering she had no VA experience yet plus, I was committed to mentoring her personally so she could upskill and build real confidence in the industry.

It was meant to be a nurturing opportunity.
No pressure. No impossible deadlines.
A safe space to learn and grow.

But a few weeks in… she ghosted me.

No goodbye.
No explanation.
Not even a simple “thank you” or “sorry, I need to step back.”

Just complete silence.

It hurt more than I expected.

Honestly, it wasn’t even about the workload left unfinished, it was minimal.

Maliit na bagay!

It was the disrespect that stung.
It was the loss of trust that felt heavy.

When you extend an opportunity with an open heart, and someone walks away without even closing the loop, it teaches you something.

Something bittersweet, but important.

Lessons I Learned (and you might, too)

• Not everyone is ready for the opportunities they pray for.
  Sometimes, people say they want a break, but when it’s given to them, they don’t recognize its value.

   

• Respect is basic professionalism.
  Ghosting is never okay! Not in freelancing, not in life. Closing the loop, kahit simpleng message lang, goes a long way.

   

• I would still do it again.
  Would I stop helping beginners because of one bad experience? No.
  Would I be more selective moving forward? Absolutely.
  But I’ll never let one disappointment harden my heart.
  

If you’re reading this and dreaming of a VA career…

Here’s my reminder:

When someone gives you a chance? Show up!
You may not know everything yet, and that’s okay.
But respect, communication, and gratitude?
Hindi mo kailangang pag-aralan yan. You can practice it right away.

Opportunities are bridges.
You can either cross them with courage…
Or burn them by being careless.

Choose wisely.

Because sometimes, a small start can lead to the biggest breakthroughs of your life, if you honor it.