Voice in My Head

That's a bit freaky eh? A voice in my head led me to Voices of our Future!?! Hmmmm let me explain! I am always online for work - I am a business development consultant - which means I am always poring the internet for opportunities, long and short term projects to bid on, grants etc. so somehow I stumbled across this program - and I thought - wow this looks interesting, I am not sure what it's all about but it's free to sign up for so why not! Boy, am I glad I did. While the opportunities for those who are the "chosen ones" are tangible, I still believe that everyone who has signed up and been participating are winners (I know it is a cliche but hey - it's my journal so I can say what I want! :)) I have already met so many wonderful people, connected with some opportunities and I honestly I have probably unearthed only about 10% of the potential of this website! I truly believe that beyond our four week course, and beyond the selection - there has been such an outpouring of stories here that I will cherish forever and I will keep coming back to read and exchange. I will also support my colleagues, the sense of camaraderie is overwhelming ... in the "real world" we are always pulling down our "competition", talking "smack" about them, and generally throwing around the "haterade" - whereas I have not seen or read a single negative comment on this forum as yet! And I am glad for that ...

This year has been a whirlwind for me - I have been to Ghana, Togo and Benin (I applied for a scholarship with the Canadian NGO Youth Challenge International and was successful), I then spent a month in Oregon on a Rotary International program called Group Study Exchange - for young professionals), then I spend 3 weeks in DC for Women Deliver (applied and got funding), then a week in CT for a UNESCO Leadership Program (yes I applied and got funding) ... do you see a pattern here? There are opportunities out there and I apply and sometimes I am successful, other times I am not - but it's the journey and process! So similarly with this program I thought initially "Well something else to apply for" I mean especially since applications are free - what do I lose? A few minutes completing the application form ...

Now that I am immersed in the process ... while I utilize a few hours each day on the platform - I definitely cannot say I am losing anything from it .. but I am definitely gaining a new perspective, new friends, new ideas ....

This mirrors my personal journey of always seeking to learn, to never be static and to always be open to new ideas ...thanks for the opportunity, and even though I may have come to the platform with the least altruistic of purposes - I'm sure I am leaving with a lot more!