Plants vs. Zombies: Things I Have Learned from Working in the Government (Part 2)

 Plants vs. Zombies: Things I Have Learned from Working in the Government (Part 2)

The Sunflowers, the Wall-nuts, and the Long Game of Public Service

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the next wave. The zombies are still coming, the lawnmower’s still your last resort, and here you are—still standing, still planting.

When I started in government back in 2017, I had no idea that I was stepping into a real-life version of Plants vs. Zombies. I came in hopeful, ready to plant sunflowers and light up the system, only to realize that some of us don’t even get proper soil to grow in.

In this battlefield, plantilla positions are like the mighty Wall-nuts—secure, immovable, and given time to root. Meanwhile, we Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) workers are expected to perform in the same sun-scorched lawn, with no armor, and sometimes not even a shovel.

We don't have the same benefits. We're not always called "government employees." But like the peashooters and puff-shrooms, we show up anyway—quietly doing our part in the frontline of service.

So, what have I learned after seven years in the game?

1. Find your sunflowers. These are the mentors and workmates who give you energy when the days feel long and thankless. They’re not always the ones in corner offices, but they radiate wisdom, integrity, and warmth. Stick with them.

2. Play the long game. Not all victories are instant. In public service, it’s the slow but steady progress that counts. A cleaner process. A fairer system. A kinder culture. These are the wins that matter most.

3. You matter—even without a title. I may not have a plantilla position, but I’ve made meaningful impact through dedication, teamwork, and resilience. The service is real, even if the title isn’t permanent.

4. Watch out for the zombies in disguise. Some challenges come not in torn clothes, but in bureaucracy, politics, and ego. Learn to tell the difference between constructive criticism and toxic resistance.

5. Kindness is your best plant. Be the sunflower in the meeting room, the cherry bomb when justice calls, and the wall-nut when protecting others. Kindness, when consistent, is revolutionary.

6. You will lose some plants. Projects will fail. Promotions will skip you. Leadership may disappoint you. But don’t give up. Replant. Rebuild. Regrow. That’s how gardens thrive.

7. Stay rooted in your ‘why’. You didn’t join for the paycheck or the prestige—you joined to serve. And that reason is more powerful than any zombie wave the system throws your way.

8. Find your fellow gardeners. Build friendships, not just networks. The people who understand your frustrations, who encourage your ideals, and who remind you to laugh amid red tape—they are your fertilizer in this sometimes thankless field.

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To the new generation entering public service:

Don’t be afraid of the zombies. The system is slow, flawed, and sometimes broken—but your presence in it matters. Build your lawn. Plant with purpose. Choose your battles. And above all, don’t lose your sunlight.

We, the COS and JO workers, may not be seen in official plaques, but we are the roots that keep the service alive.

And maybe—just maybe—one day the system will catch up and finally plant us in soil we deserve.

With hope and dirt-stained hands,
A COS since 2017 who refuses to be uprooted.