How has the start of 2013 been for you? Personally I’m still recovering from a few blows from 2012 and I know a few friends who are going through the same thing too. It all kind of left me jaded for a while with questions like why?…..hmmm actually it was mostly just one question…why? haha!
I think the toughest thing about going through a bad patch is really just figuring out or making sense of the patch. I mean naturally people want to understand why these negative things are happening because as humans we feel that if we know the reasons why, we can solve it. I’ve been reading a lot lately, speaking to counselors and experts and it really comes down to one thing, life isn’t about how much you can give but how much you can take. I gotta say endurance…..hmm it’s probably something I’ve become used to for many years. Close friends will know that I haven’t had it easy.
Self worth has been a problem this year. I’ve questioned many choices I’ve made in life and my career…..until yesterday when I met 3 inspiring people.
Jarrod, Ismail, Benson and I were invited to give a talk to the new Year 1 students of Law and Management at Temasek Polytechnic. We all had careers in law somewhat planned out and due to circumstances decided not to go down that route.
So you look at our careers now – Radio DJ, Firefighter, Social Entrepreneur and Teacher and you would say “Yeah that’s pretty cool, less complicated careers from being lawyers”……trust me, if you are a law grad, it’s tough. And indeed as all of us started talking about the challenges we faced, we realized how much we had in common.
We all had to face challenges in the build up to where we are today career wise. I don’t write this to disrespect anyone, I mean I’m sure you have your fair share of challenges, nor am I saying that my challenges are worse than yours. It’s just nice to be around people who have faced similar circumstances, with expectations that you have to live up to based on what you studied and then just throwing it all away for something called passion.
At the end of it, I’m honestly unsure if the students really connected with how we kept saying that we are where we are because of passion or if the lure of money still resides in their ambition….well nothing wrong with that, it’s part of being human.
Perhaps it’s self worth that I’m looking for or maybe just the sudden urge to write.
After the talk we were sitting down having coffee and found that we’ve had similar personal problems and challenges apart from work and we each said “what the heck, if I had to do it all over again, I’d do it the same way!” We laughed and knew that life is funny that way…..sometimes you get things you least expect.I think also because of the manner of education we’ve had as law students that makes us able to take a bit more than others.
The sort of resilience we have that’s been molded within us, the kind that in the end, we know we’ll come out on top. Perhaps yesterdays talk was more to help me than help the year 1 students?….haha I guess I’m over thinking but you know what, I really needed this talk, to know what I’m worth again.
Till today my brain still talks to me and makes me second guess decisions I’ve made but in the end, I listened to my heart, my passion and I am truly happy with my choices.
My last words to the students was “You may or may not become lawyers but it’s what you learn in these 3 years that will cultivate you and mold you. The one thing you need to remember is to trust the people who will guide you through, they know best and they have your interests at heart. I trusted them and I turned out pretty good…..so trust them too”
I really need a good break this 2013, ya I know I’m not the best kid around but seriously it’s been cruel….
Am I ok? Ha….just barely……but I’m a little more inspired now and I’m ready to get up and finish my 15 rounds.
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