As I look back on this past year in these final weeks of my fellowship, I cannot help but be humbled and truly grateful to the Global Health Corps Program. I originally wrote about my feelings on this reflection earlier last month through a Facebook post. I wanted to re-post my comments here on the GHC blog for two reasons. The first to shout from the proverbial mountaintops how grateful I am and to share with a larger audience what this experience has meant to me. Secondly, to share a little bit of advice with the 2013-2014 GHC fellowship class and the future GHC fellows in the years to come.
This has truly been the best year of my life! I have met so many wonderful people, learned so much about myself and others, grew in ways I didn’t think possible. I stumbled, I leaned in and I fell, only to rise again and again to meet various personal challenges and obstacles. I was in the moment and at times day dreaming of things far and away. I missed, then skyped, emailed, or called. I made a plan and was also spontaneous. I ate, I prayed, I cried, I laughed, I sang, and danced. I did also love. I made mistakes and attempted to correct them when I could. I worked hard and pushed myself beyond what I thought was possible. I stayed true to myself and raison d’être.
Dreams do come true, and sometimes I secretly cannot believe this has been my life. Moving forward my future is bright, opportunities are truly endless, and my aspirations limitless. The sky is no longer the limit, its now a milestone. Thank you will never be enough to all who made this past year as amazing as it has been. However, due to limitations in the unfurling of ones’ tongue and the human language itself, it is all that I can be permitted to say…so THANK YOU.
To the 2013-2014 GHC fellowship class I say this to you, based on my experiences from this year:
First, congratulations and welcome! I am truly impressed by the intelligence and skills many of you possess and bring to the community. I have no doubt in my mind you all will not only excel in your positions but continue to raise the bar for others and hold true to the GHC values and beliefs. Unlike many of you, I did not become a GHC fellow the first time I applied. However, like some of you, I saw in GHC an opportunity for growth and community and applied a second time in hope of being chosen. My desire to be a GHC fellow came from my belief that the keys to changing the world can be found in the mobilization of youth and women. GHC embodied many of my personal beliefs and has a strong sense of community and family.
As you begin your 391 days (approx) of fellowship remember this. You will have ups and downs both with your organization and with other fellows, you will not always get along. This is normal. You will wonder why you are here and your certainty and confidence in your capabilities will waiver. This is normal. You will also have amazing experiences and breakthroughs that will take your breath away, you feel like your are finally “in the zone”. It will happen, this is normal.
For those days when it seems hopeless, just remember that it is just that, one day. This is when it is important to stay in the moment and just take it one day at a time. Tomorrow will be a new day, full of new possibilities and promise.
Just. Take. It. One day. At a. Time.
Lean in more and hey, if you fall, get up and keep moving forward! Laugh. Laugh. Laugh. Bring a hard drive, you’ll need it for the movie nights you will have with yourself.
I hope you all experience as much joy as a fellow as I have and learn as much as you possibly can while doing it. You will make mistakes, I did. This is normal. Learn from them and move on, correct where you can and accept it, where you cannot. And if all else fails, reach out…you have 321 brothers and sisters in your newly adopted family willing to take a call, email, tweet, Vulcan mind meld, ESP, post on Facebook or WhatsApp from you. (Especially the mind meld or ESP, THAT would be AWESOME!)
Best of luck!