This little girl wanted to be a mermaid, a singer, a teacher and a radio host. In highschool she wanted to be an actress and in university a foreign correspondent. At some point, she wanted to be a diplomat and she considered doing a PhD in International Relations.
She had just turned 21, when she boarded a plane to study in China for a year, on her own, 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁.
She was scared but at the same time she was 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 to see what this adventure would bring.
After graduating from university, she dreamt about an international career. But she often doubted her own abilities and was shy to use her voice, hardly ever raised her hand in class, even if she knew the answer. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿.
This little girl went on to learn new languages, make and build a home in 6 different cities, build friendships with people from all over the world.
She has worked alongside the brightest researchers, scientists and leaders with renowned think tanks and media corporations.
She realised that a career is not defined by a job title and pay rise but by creating a professional path that allows her to grow, evolve and develop new skills. And she realised that she was capable.
She has often failed, writing job applications that were never answered, applying for university programs and not getting in, but after each set back she picked herself up.
Today, this little girl has 3 kids that are almost exactly the same age as herself in that picture and she is building an impactful podcasting business that empowers others to leverage their voice to inspire positive change and transformation.
She leaned into being comfortable with not knowing all the answers but 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿.
#thislittlegirlisme and if I could go back to give her a piece of advice I would encourage her to never stop dreaming her many dreams because, as it turns out, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 made her grow and learn, becoming that strong, resilient leader she always aspired to be.
I would love to hear your #thislittlegirlisme story too, please make sure to tag me when you share it.
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Thank you Inspiring Girls International for all you do to raise young girls aspirations around the world.
Special shout out to Inspiring Girls Hong Kong Inès Gafsi Natasha King (nee O'Brien)
