Visualizing my Experience
They say ‘Behind every dark cloud there is an every-shining sun. Just wait. In time, the cloud will pass.’ The above image is what I saw this evening while having tea on my terrace. I have seen dark clouds before, and also rainbows, but never have I seen them together like this. This was not a small silver lining, but a rainbow that depicts hope and a promise of better times to come. It also reminds me of my journey at the start of the Amal fellowship.
The first thought I had during my first session was if this is the right place for me, will I get anything out of it. Almost all of the fellows were from a public education background and a lot of emphasis was given to the idea that the fellowship is meant for people from those backgrounds as they lack the skills required for professionals. I was different as I have studied in private institutions and so I had exposure to opportunities and education where I already had reasonably well communication skills. However, as I had already graduated, and still didn’t have a full-time job, I decided to keep attending to kill the abundant time I had on my hand.
This of course was not a positive way of thinking, or as Amal puts it, not a growth mindset. It was like the scene above where my judgment and thoughts were clouded and Amal became the rainbow in those clouds, fore sighting to me of the great things I’ll learn in the days to come. The most important thing I learned in the first two weeks and which arguably to me is the theme of the fellowship, is having a Growth Mindset. Humankind is programmed to evolve. Their evolution is the foundation of their existence and prosperity. To evolve is to grow, and there is no better way of growing than learning. This desire for learning and improving is my biggest take from the first two weeks of the fellowship.
I would not call this a journey of self-discovery, rather a course correction. I knew what I was, I just didn’t know what I wasn’t. Oftentimes, it’s not about becoming a new person, but becoming the person you were meant to be, and already are, but don’t know how to be. I have always been clear about my goals, however, I have been always soft on myself, never pushing my limits, never properly introspecting. I liked blaming others and external factors for my failures. This fellowship has taught me that I am the master of my destiny. The most fundamental law of Engineering applies to all scenarios of life. The output you get can never exceed the input you give. It will be my effort and hard work which will ultimately decide whether I succeed or not. All I have to do is ‘Kam, Kam, and Kam’. The dark clouds will definitely come again, but so will the rainbow.
