Ssalman
Dec 19, 2016
Graduate / What are you most proud of outside of your professional life? How does it shape who you are today? [3]
1.What are you most proud of outside of your professional life? How does it shape who you are today? (up to 400 words)
In my view, the proudest moments in life are the moments when we are the humblest, especially when we experience our true humanitarian traits of compassion and empathy towards others.
For me, my greatest source of pride is my counseling clinic. Although, it is a small almost non-existent set up, something far from being appreciated, I see it as greater source of pride than many of my well applauded professional and academic achievements. As a strong advocate of education, especially women's education I was always an active participant in non-government and government programs designed for this purpose. In 2012, inspired by my past experiences, I launched an informal tutoring and mentoring center for domestic helper girls working in my locality. Started as a one teacher, four students tutoring center from a spare room in my house, the program has influenced the life of 250 girls to date. My team and I work in different capabilities to ensure that these girls who cannot afford sparing time for formal school system, graduate high school and are even able to purse professional careers.
I am not proud of the fact that I have managed a center for four years, or that it has grown from a basic tutoring center to a mentoring clinic. Rather, I am proud of the influence my small initiative has had over its life. I am proud that my efforts have mobilized my friends and peers to join the cause in whatever way they can, donating time or money. I feel honored to know the change my basic assistance and encouragement has bought in lives of my mentees. I am delighted that many of my students who had not seen formal high school are now role models in their communities. I swell with pride when my students tell me they have secured merit scholarships in reputed colleges in the country, many first in their communities to even complete high school. The pleasure I feel when my mentee expresses desire to follow my footsteps and mentor girls in her village is indescribable.
At a personal level, the satisfaction of giving back has amplified my sense of belonging to society. This experience has inculcated the virtue of fraternity feeling within me. Being a small part of the bigger community hasn't suppressed my desire to work for a greater cause. I wish to carry forward the same energy, enthusiasm and sincerity as I move ahead in life and join hands with my peers to influence community in a positive way.
1.What are you most proud of outside of your professional life? How does it shape who you are today? (up to 400 words)
In my view, the proudest moments in life are the moments when we are the humblest, especially when we experience our true humanitarian traits of compassion and empathy towards others.
For me, my greatest source of pride is my counseling clinic. Although, it is a small almost non-existent set up, something far from being appreciated, I see it as greater source of pride than many of my well applauded professional and academic achievements. As a strong advocate of education, especially women's education I was always an active participant in non-government and government programs designed for this purpose. In 2012, inspired by my past experiences, I launched an informal tutoring and mentoring center for domestic helper girls working in my locality. Started as a one teacher, four students tutoring center from a spare room in my house, the program has influenced the life of 250 girls to date. My team and I work in different capabilities to ensure that these girls who cannot afford sparing time for formal school system, graduate high school and are even able to purse professional careers.
I am not proud of the fact that I have managed a center for four years, or that it has grown from a basic tutoring center to a mentoring clinic. Rather, I am proud of the influence my small initiative has had over its life. I am proud that my efforts have mobilized my friends and peers to join the cause in whatever way they can, donating time or money. I feel honored to know the change my basic assistance and encouragement has bought in lives of my mentees. I am delighted that many of my students who had not seen formal high school are now role models in their communities. I swell with pride when my students tell me they have secured merit scholarships in reputed colleges in the country, many first in their communities to even complete high school. The pleasure I feel when my mentee expresses desire to follow my footsteps and mentor girls in her village is indescribable.
At a personal level, the satisfaction of giving back has amplified my sense of belonging to society. This experience has inculcated the virtue of fraternity feeling within me. Being a small part of the bigger community hasn't suppressed my desire to work for a greater cause. I wish to carry forward the same energy, enthusiasm and sincerity as I move ahead in life and join hands with my peers to influence community in a positive way.
