Will you refuse an opportunity in front of you because you are not ready? Are you ready for the next opportunity?
After my middle school graduation, my girl classmate invited me to take a trip to Fuzhou city. My father gave me only 10 RMB without objection. It took 10.5 RMB for a single trip train ticket which meant we should take a free ride with limited money. My classmate had experience on stealing a ride and I trusted her. That was the first and only time of free ride in my life. We escaped through an opposite direction along the railway when arrived the destination station. While for the return trip, we had no way to get on the train for return trip due the strict ticket check-in process. We figured out to get on in the next small station and successfully got on the train and come back home safely. I could never prepare for such trip as it was adventure that I never forgot. I'm glad I had courage to do so at that time.
My first trip to Shanghai was as freshmen for my colleague register. I came alone and met my future schoolmate at train station. My school bus picked us up at the railway station and my senior sister apprentice from my high school met me at the reception desk. I met my roommate when arrived my dormitory. Everything was unplanned by me but just happened perfectly! The next day when I saw the university newspaper on the new freshmen registration, 98% was accompanied by their parents or family members. I was so surprised that I was exceptional. There was no anxiety in my whole trip to school at all even though that was my first time out of my province!
My courage was built through these unplanned journeys. In the 3rd year of my career, I was suggested to a new job, as information searcher in a department called "knowledge center". I could stay in my R&D job or apply for it. On one hand, this opportunity was the first position outside of US in that department and need to be trained in US for half a year. It was my dream to go to US. On the other hand, it was totally different from my previous role as researcher and I had no idea about the job. However that didn't prevent me from trying. I was interviewed and got the job. As a result I was trained in US for three months due to cost constrain. I learned new techniques about database, searching skill. I also worked as a liaison for other services our department offered. I organized sharing sessions almost every one month to introduce the service and tools we offered. I quite enjoyed what I did and planned my path in this direction through my whole career.
Two years later in another normal working day, I got an email from a big boss and offered me a job as product steward. That was the second comparative choices in my career. Again, this time, I had no idea what product steward was. My boss at that time told me product steward was a boring job, and tried to convince me to stay. I thought it through for a couple of days, asked a colleague about the daily job and decided to take it.
That was the best decision I ever made, because I met my favorite boss. I didn't try to please him but he was quite satisfied with me. I received the most compliments ever in my life. He said I could do anything I want. He said I could be her, the head of our department at that time. That was so inspiring. I learned quickly and was passionate every day.
I feel grateful where I'm today. When opportunities offered to me, I don't think too much on the risk side but take it. Luckily enough, every opportunity in my life open a new world to me. The destination is not where I planned but there are always unexpected scenery out there. It might not be the best choice, but it makes me better and move onto the next phrase of my life. It gives me courage to take on future new opportunity in front of me and move on.
