Didn’t get the security role I wanted

I’m looking for a role in cybersecurity. It’s an obsession for me.

I spent a few years on the help desk while finishing school and stacking certs, eventually becoming the most knowledgeable person on the team while everyone else just coasted. I’ve put in the hours on Hack The Box and consistently outpaced my peers in technical growth.

The problem is the internal politics. A coworker who wanted the same path was hired first and promoted to the security team before me, leaving no open roles. I also feel there is some favoritism at play and group dynamics.

Now I’m stuck on the networking team; the firewall work is okay, but it drives me mad that I can’t hunt threats all day. To top it off, I have to watch the person who got the security role scroll through online shops during important meetings while showing zero interest in the craft. It’s maddening.

Is it time to just move on? I really care about the place and actually wanted to be here long term.