Obligatory this happened a while ago but wanted to share.
My wife worked for her company for ten years, always performing and praised despite serious micro management.
I then took early retirement and said we should travel the world for 6 months, an amazing opportunity for anyone. She floated the idea of unpaid leave at her work and they were very receptive, HR were cool with it, her direct supervisor was cool with it as was the office manager but the department head was a notorious bitch who existed to make everyone miserable.
She was told to officially request the unpaid leave with strong hints that it would be accepted. She put it in with high hopes and after two weeks she was called into a meeting. She entered the room to see her supervisor and office manager with their heads down and the department head with a big shit eating grin on her face.
You guessed it, refused due to undisclosed concerns from the department head. Who was absolutely loving it. The department head then told my wife that the only way she'd get to travel is to lose her job.
What nobody knew is that we'd anticipated this so in the face of the news my wife said 'no problem, here's my notice.' She handed them the papers on the spot and left the room. Shocked faces all round.
The following month the department head tried every trick and manipulation she could to make my wife miserable but nothing worked. The whole office was thrilled for her.
We ended up going round the world and had an amazing time with no worries. Upon return home my wife started looking for a job and randomly was contacted by an old friend who'd followed our tavels on social media. She was offered a job with more money and better hours. She absolutely loves it.
After around a month of being home the old department head reached out, asking her to return as they couldn't retain staff. My wife got to tell her where to absolutely shove it for a second time.
The point? Follow your dreams and don't let a job deny you opportunities.