Hey all, it's been a while! An update of sorts, some good some bad.
First the bad:
I underwent a performance review shortly after the beginning of the year, and it was determined I was not up to snuff. Initial training went well, however once I was let out on my own troubles mounted. This is a small company and to not have a tech 100% ready to go was too costly. I was pretty bummed, as I had felt I reached a turning point from being totally overwhelmed to only calling when I wasn't sure on specific issues, however apparently it was not quick enough. Though this job ended on a sour note, the real world experience in the field has built my confidence. I've completed repairs entirely on my own, from trouble shooting, to diagnosis, to repair and have learned a lot about the process.
Now the good:
The genesis of this thread was me getting fired, and now I've come full circle. I've been re-instated! This is not a step forward in my career unfortunately as it's back to the warehouse, however its a good paying job and will keep the bills paid while I go to school. All on a single income thanks to this site!
More good:
Speaking of school, after getting sacked from the refrigeration company I decided to go full bore into school. I had previously endeavored to earn a single certificate, however I decided the AS degree was worth shooting for. I enrolled in as many classes as I could, 2 units shy of the limit. I'm now on track to earn my AS next May, however this past May I completed, and just yesterday I finally got in the mail my Refrigeration Certificate!
It's been a hell of a year, I have learned a lot. Resilience, perseverance, and flexibility have paid off.
There's still a lot of work to be done. Thankfully back with my original company, I've more opportunity for simple transfers in their refrigeration division, though I have to wait 6 more months due to disciplinary reasons.
I've yet to address my mental health. Though I believe the entire issue was mostly stress related and there's no issue currently, my SO would still like me to see a doctor. I've resisted, and though I've seen what good treatment does for anxiety and depression, I just don't think going the formal route will yield much. I got angry, got fired, sometimes get angry at home. 99% of the time I'm pretty chipper and positive.
Alright, I'm still riding high on finally getting my certificate. Just reworked my resume and about to start a cover letter for my dream company. Thanks all for reading and your contributions. They've helped immensely.