From Whence I Came
By Alexis S. Ryan
Sixteen years old ago when I joined the Customs Department, honestly I did not know what I was getting myself into I didn’t know what customs was.
Little did I travelled
So an encounter on the baggage counter for me would have not been a most memorable event.
But I heard the stories, many stories; horror stories about how the officers were monsters, evil men and women bent on taking people’s hard earn money
Confiscating their stuff and charging them
Unjust sums which were derived from to the mood they were in at that moment.
See like most people before I joined I was misinformed
However, forever the optimist,
I approached my first day with a blank slate
Ready to partake and gain knowledge about the profession I had chosen to become.
And on day one I realize that
The customs officers in those stories were fictional characters made of by angry authors/customers who were probably told to pay customs duties at some point.
And in my first week I learnt three very valuable lessons
To this day that has stayed with me
Lesson one; there is no price tag on integrity.
Lesson two; you have no friends once the exchange of money is involved.
They become customers
Lesson three; this job is not easy
But a job worth doing is worth doing well
A Customs Officer is an unnamed profession with minimal visibility but significant worth
Sometimes the most ordinary situations’ we face as they patrol the land and sea would paralyze with fear the most extraordinary man.
And the sacrifices’ we must make
Some being missed opportunities, Children’s concerts, flights, exams and vacations
Like robots we have to retain numerous amounts of information’s
Like Tariff Classifications and Calculation
To ensure smooth customer facilitation and in the end often there is no gratification.
Except in knowing that the job was done well.
There is no instrument that can measure our bravery at it best
Even when patience is put to the test
When words are howled like bullets from empty barrels
Still we as Custom Officers stand firm, on moved, Unfazed.
Sometimes with a blank stare which is often misconstrued as rude
But if irate customers only knew while standing
What was running through our minds, the decisions we must make like?
Do I arrest?
Do I diffuse?
Do I respond?
Do I let this customer get the best of me?
Or do I remain calm?
Difficult Decisions where we exhaust discretion as we look at the bigger picture
Visible only to one side.
Sixteen year ago if you would have told me
I would be in situations like this
I would have told you no.
But I thankful that I joined this organization that has helped me to grow
Into a strong will, purpose filled, Goal Oriented individual.
I proud to know I am not, just this country’s first line of defense;
It’s shield against Terrorism
A Revenue Collector
A Tourism Entity
I am proud to know that what I do matters on a scale that is larger than me.
THAT IS WHY today I am proud to be a Customs Officer
And sixteen years ago I think I made the right choice.
