The Beauty Of Beginnings
Contributed by: Medha Mukherji
We grow up taught to be afraid of beginnings – Of everything new and unknown. Somewhere along the road to maturity, we get hooked on the idea that beginnings should scare us and so, our desire to experience something we never did before, shrinks and fades away.
We all succumb to our fear of beginnings more often than not and it stops us from reaching our full potential and truth be told, from having fun. We tend to forget about this when we think about doing something new. That beyond all the things that could go wrong, all the complications and roadblocks, we should be enjoying it.
Similarly, that first week at a new job can either go really well, or make you rethink your new position entirely. Sometimes, maybe your entire career path.
April 2nd, 2018 was a new beginning for me in more ways than one. First day at the first job.
Starting a new job, one worries about several things – If you’re going to get along with your boss and colleagues. If the induction is going to be a bumpy transition or a smooth on-boarding. If you’re going to survive in the work environment or if its going to take you down.
However, when you first job is in an organization that works towards the development of kids on a ground level, your concerns don’t just stop there. You end up worrying about your rapport with kids too – Whether or not it is going to come to you naturally and what all would you have to work on. In this job, this acted as both the unique selling point and my biggest concern.
Ever since I was ten years old, I knew I wanted to work for children. To make their lives better. The thought of getting to know if I’m a good fit with kids is intimidating, considering I’ve spent the last thirteen years of my life worrying about this moment of truth.
In most jobs I’ve heard of, more often than not, induction of any sort goes out the window. Don’t get me wrong, hitting the ground running isn’t a problem for me, but sometimes, everyone could use a little padding when they land. During my first week at Project KHEL, the time and space I got to pick up on how to facilitate sessions and make your own presence has been the best way of experiential learning. I had the freedom to responsibly find out and shape my own way of delivering sessions.
During sessions at various locations, I accompanied facilitators first as an observer and then as a support facilitator which enabled me to comprehend the role and responsibilities better. Being given the chance to hear them speak of their leanings from each session and sharing my observations was a quick way to decipher and identify what would be my way forward when I get a chance to lead my sessions.
Starting a new job is usually a little bumpy and there’s always a learning curve. But when an organization has a well-laid-out induction process, it helps to take the pressure off the new hire. It has been an ongoing engaging process as it should be and not an event to ensure not to overwhelm me as a new hire. Above all, it was personal – catering to my needs as an employee and meaningful.
The colleagues at work have already started to feel like a team who have been prepared to help ease the transition into the work environment and get the relationship building off to a good start.
The greatest thing about beginnings is not that they’re an open door, but that you get to decide what’s on the other side of it. They are the moments you get to take the reins of life into your own hands and stir the ship in the direction you want.
In the coming week, I am going to take over more opportunities at Project KHEL. I find myself ready to lead my first session as a facilitator – To learn from the mistakes I might make, to grow as a person along with the kids, to hopefully being able to make a difference to their lives and to definitely have a lot of fun!
Don’t hesitate to take the jump, to make a step in the unknown direction. To start fresh. After all, each day brings with it the chance for something new.