Ready…Get Set…Take Flight!🚀
“Everybody will miss everybody!”, was one of the last comments shared in the chat-box during the very last session of our Fellowship. Even after being told that the session had officially ended, none of us left the meeting. We all stayed. We all felt like staying so that the meeting did not end. We all felt like re-connecting. It was a sentimental moment for most of us, as we bid farewell to each other, while promising to maintain lifelong relationships as lifelong learners. The Fellowship proved to us that the duration of three months was nothing compared to the learning we had received, however, it was more than everything compared to the beautiful relationships we had developed. ✨
During the last session, I sensed the power of just talking and connecting. It does wonders. It was the last session, when we all began to sound so positive about ourselves. We reflected on the journey we had just taken, and expressed how each fellow of the batch had played a critical role as an MVTP. Three months ago, most of us were unfamiliar with the acronym ‘MVTP’, however, during the last session, we realized that it all starts with the concept of self-discovery. From understanding the purpose of one’s life, to working within a team, from actually being SMART, to working on our life goals, from developing the problem-solving mindset to having a growth mindset, from studying the impact of feedback to being able to give a quality one to somebody else, the discussion revolved over and over again, as we hit almost every concept, every course, and every learning that was delivered during the Fellowship program. The best part about this session was, we were reflecting on the teachings Amal had contributed, but this time around, we were reflecting on how we were implementing each of those teachings. So, the transition from learning through online courses, to actually implementing the deliverables was something absolutely amazing. I, being one of the fellows, also expressed how the ‘extra-mile’ idea had become a permanent part of my life. Today, whatever I begin, whatever I do, I make sure to see what ‘going the extra-mile’ would look like in any particular situation, and then, I actually make an effort to see myself going the extra-mile. It is funny, how the ‘extra-mile’ concept keeps reminding me of Amal, but the level of peace and satisfaction that I achieve upon doing so, is indescribable.
It was a moment of immense gratitude and pleasure when my accountability partners spoke about my contribution in their lives. I was touched 💕. Truly. Their words uplifted me morally, mentally as well as emotionally. It was something I did not expect, because the impact I may have been able to make on somebody’s life, was something I did to explore the purpose of my life. Doing so, I also explored my interests, my passion and the direction of my journey, ultimately making the bigger picture a lot clearer for myself. So, all experiences come with valuable teachings, however, the reward of being acknowledged for your efforts or contribution towards someone else’s professional growth and development is extremely powerful, and I am completely privileged to have received this wonderful reward! 🙌
After the session ended, my circle members and I joined our very own Zoom Circle Meeting and reflected on how far we had come together. It was a breath-taking experience as we shared about our fears, misconceptions and challenges, especially related to the theme of our Mega Project. With an idea that was usually referred to as ‘unfamiliar, unknown and unclear’, my team and I did not give up. Instead, we reframed our strategies and asked for feedback until we developed clarity and were able to give our audience the very same. From regular circle meetings at 10 PM to assigning roles and responsibilities, all team members plunged into the mission whole-heartedly and made sure to give in their best. As a result of the passion, determination and hard-work demonstrated by my circle members for our project, we were able to deliver a presentation that was last in order, but certainly the first to be remembered. The moment our Mega Project assessor said, “I don’t know what to say, I just don’t have words because your project reminded me of my father”, — we felt united. We felt strongly connected to an individual, and we were fascinated by the fact that every word of our project was something she could very well relate to. The Mega Project presentation has been my favorite memory during the course of the Fellowship, which I shall cherish forever.
The best way to end the Fellowship Program was to arrange an informal meetup. We decided a location and met each other for the first time, in-person! Wow — what a moment! The quality of interaction clearly suggested that we all knew each other for years 😂 Even during the meetup, we kept talking about our online courses, sessions and comments made by fellows. It was absolutely hilarious to see how some fellows appeared so different from what they looked like on screen! 🤩 During the meetup, we realized how far we all had come together as a family and how determined we all were towards empowering this very new bond. We concluded at the note of arranging an informal meetup once every month so that our bond remained intact and the process of sharing experiences as lifelong learners never came to an end.
With the end of the Fellowship, I am able to witness a different and a better version of myself emerging within and outside. The amount of learning that came with this tremendous experience is massive, however, there are a few incredible examples that I have created for myself to help me pass every kind of obstacle, setback or challenge that comes in my life.
The Mega Project I worked on, within a team setting, has today, become an initiative that is receiving attention and recognition worldwide. ‘Me, My Dad and Dementia’ was a dream that was constantly subjected to the fear of failure. It was something I wanted to do with all my heart, but, the inner voice that said, ‘What if?’ was the reason why I stopped every time. Today, the initiative is being executed with a systematic approach to ensure impact on the lives of our target audience. The Mega Project taught me about the harm we bring into our lives, as we overthink and underestimate ourselves. Very often, we ourselves are the culprits, as we refuse to take risks and fail to believe in ourselves. Today, when I have to make a decision, I evaluate and study the consequences associated, rather than overthink, which enables me to do things with a more positive attitude and achieve more than what I plan for the day.
Through the support of the Fellowship, I have discovered myself — the most significant achievement of 2021, so far. Having said so, I am now the kind of person who resists procrastination, admires going the extra-mile and believes in sharing constructive feedback with all the people I meet. Thank you, Amal, for being the best way to end 2020, offering a brilliant start to the year 2021!
