I'm unemployed due to AI — is this a sign?

My last appearance on CBS 17's show "My Carolina."

One year after pivoting from my career as a teacher and into a role as a full-time editor, I lost my position in a company-wide layoff.

After a month of sitting in this reality and processing my disappointment, I’m finally getting to a place of accepting that no one can avoid the instability we’re all experiencing — especially working in media. Even knowing this, I’ve struggled to be okay. As if losing my main source of income and what I saw as my new beginning wasn’t enough, my perfectionist complex hasn’t allowed me much time to rest while considering where I go from here.

It’s been a month of processing my disappointment and shame. And the last thing I wanted to do was write about this. But it seems the more I run from it, the more my subconscious nags at me to release the words.

My unfiltered thoughts

The obvious step would be to apply for positions and remain hopeful. But the current state of the job market is futile. Full-time positions with impressive perks are few and far between. And fortunately, I’m not at the point where I’m desperately applying.

I’m 26 and have been through more than I’m comfortable acknowledging. I hate to dwell, so I won’t—but honestly, I thought God, and I had an unspoken agreement that I was no longer on the “strongest soldiers” list. Talk about a bid that never ends.

What’s next? I don’t know. And that’s what scares me most. On one hand, I’m trying to give myself grace—mass layoffs are happening everywhere, and a lot of us are just trying to stay afloat. But that doesn’t make the uncertainty any easier to sit with.

The AI of it all

Media isn’t just unstable because of the economy. It’s shifting in real time thanks to technology. I recently read an article about my former employer's acquisition of an AI system that essentially runs with little to no human involvement. It stung. But it also confirmed what I already knew: that company wasn’t the end-all, be-all for me.

My goals have always been bigger and broader. And while this layoff wasn’t my choice, I’m choosing to look at it as a forced opportunity to get clearer, braver, and more intentional about where I go from here.

Enjoying one of my f(un)employment days poolside.

What’s keeping me grounded

Honestly? Knowing that I’m not alone. The job market is rough. The economy feels fragile. And some days, it takes everything just to stay above water.

Things got so bleak one day that I applied for a teaching position. And while I was good at teaching, I know in my gut it’s not what I'm here to do. I want to leave my mark through my writing and hope that my words live beyond my existence.

Also, shout out to me for always paying my bills 1-2 months ahead.

What I think is next

I’d be lying if I said I’ve had an aha moment, or landed on some big, inspiring conclusion. I’m starting to think none of us really do. But winging it has never been my style. So instead, I’m throwing some proverbial sh— at the wall and seeing what sticks.

Playing it safe and waiting out this season won’t get me any closer to where I want to be. My best guess is that I have to try in order to figure out what’s right. Besides, nothing beats failure but a try, right? I’m still trying to convince myself.

So that’s the plan. Try it all. Say yes to a few things. Say no to others. Keep writing. Keep dreaming big and with as much delusion as possible.

I have realized that the media industry does not offer long-term stability. At least not at one company. But that doesn’t mean I don’t belong in it. It just means I’ll have to get more creative about the way I show up.

So I’m going back to the basics: writing for the love of it. And if you’re reading this and want to stick around for the next chapter and more insight into my personal experience, subscribe to my newsletter. I’m rebuilding in real time.