What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
I was scrolling on LinkedIn one day, not expecting to do much, when I came across a post by The Female Quotient. I don’t remember the exact wording of it, but I do recall it posed the question “What is the bravest thing you’ve done?” I wanted to give my take on this.
There are probably two things I would talk about if this question got asked of me. The first is to chase my goal relentlessly. I come from an Indian family. Growing up, it meant my life was mapped out for me. Go to school, get good grades, go to university, and pursue a career ideally in medicine or the sciences, followed by a few backup options. But here is where it all came crashing down. Pretty early, if you ask me. I was never the A+ student. I studied under two different syllabuses, one when I lived in Oman, and the second when I moved to New Zealand. Two very different styles of learning. But as a student, I just didn’t have the patience to read and retain the textbook knowledge.
In New Zealand, students are given a lot more freedom in their subject choices in school. So, my career choices came crashing down when I decided to drop maths and science in high school. A lot of people said my life was over. What would my life even look like if I wasn’t pursuing anything to do with the sciences? For some, it even meant that there was one less competitor in this race of life. I found myself in my final year of high school arguing with my parents that university was not for me. But that was not an option. I’m glad in a way. The experiences that I had at university played a major role in shaping who I am today. Once I discovered what it was that I truly wanted to do, I decided that I was going to chase it no matter what.
I’m not the person who creates vision boards. Don’t get me wrong, they are a fantastic tool if it’s something you use to determine your ambitions and goals. I’ve tried putting vision boards together but miserably failed at them. All I decided to do was to chase event roles. I didn’t know how else it would come true and take shape, but just that I had to take the first step. No one really prepares you for how hard it is to chase something. The number of times I got told no or was rejected from what I had perceived to be dream roles or opportunities broke me. But I had decided that the only person who can say no to me is me. I continued on my journey, and I am so glad I did. If I had listened to others, then I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work Hidden Valley, or Touch Bass or Art in the Park, or any of the other events I’ve been at. It might take time, but eventually you will find your people. Your people who encourage you and create and give you opportunities to succeed.
The second thing I’d want to talk about is putting myself out there. I consciously made the decision in 2024 to say yes to the things that scared me. It was very daunting. I did things that I wasn’t comfortable with, for example running in public. Putting myself out there also ties in with chasing my goals. Because if I didn’t, again, I wouldn’t have all of those events on my CV today.
But when I think about the idea of putting myself out there, in hindsight, I realise that it’s something I’ve been doing subconsciously for a while. It might not have looked like saying yes to everything. But it has looked like challenging myself to go to my first boxing class. Now, I can’t imagine starting my Saturday without my boxing crew and my trainer. It has meant buying my Trek Marlin 5 and challenging myself to go on long rides. Albeit, I haven’t been able to in a few months since moving houses, but I’m hoping to get back into it.
Putting myself out there and chasing my goal has also meant making life-changing decisions like moving to a different country. Followed by moving back home. I’m truly proud of both of these things that I’ve done. So, I think if you asked me what the bravest thing you’ve done is, this would be my answer.
I leave you with the same question.
Until next time,
Mili
