Example Reflection – Learning Launch

Elements:

1. Challenge: Describe your challenge, including all relevant information.

The challenge that I had to face started before my University Graduation. I was studying

at the time Translation, Interpretation and Linguistics and then the financial crisis in

2000 started. I still recall my graduation day. It seemed more like a funeral that a happy

day. Even before my graduation I had started searching for a job. The problem that I

had to face was the fact that I was living in a small country, hugely affected by the 2000

financial crisis and well known for its corruption scandals. Being always a very good

student with very high notes, I had the false expectation that I would easily find a job,

given that I could speak many languages at a high level. Unfortunately things did not

turn out as expected. As I found out, nobody cared for my CV, nor for my languages

knowledge etc. I first started applying to translating companies, only to find out that

there were offering me to work for free, with no pay for many months and if I managed

to convince them of my capabilities then I would be paid for 0,001 cent per word

translated. With such conditions it seemed impossible to make a living.

After this, I tried to reach to my network of relatives and friends asking for any job,

including one that did not have anything to do with my profile. As it turned out, nobody

cared. Everyone seemed to be too absorbed in their problems and I never heard back

nor received a job offering neither any advice.

Time was passing by and my life was sitting behind a computer screen crying and

sending CVs 10 hours per day to no avail. Opening my inbox was a very traumatic

experience since I always received the same, general HR rejection email, saying that

my CV was stored somewhere and that they will contact me in the future, which by the

way never happened. My life was stuck while at the same time, other people with fewer

qualifications and degrees were progressing thanks to the powerful connections of their

parents. It was hard for me to accept the fact that nobody cared and that it was so

difficult to be given a chance to start my career.

2. Selection: In your own words, briefly describe the tool you selected (e.g., what it is

and why you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture

references).

The first tool I selected was to make a list of all companies and services, where a

multilingual person could be hired. Then I sent emails, made cold calls aiming to sell my

CV and even went uninvited to leave my CV at the HR department hoping that this visit

could lead to an interview and increase my chances of getting a job. Apparently this was

not the best tool. For instance I contacted, called and went to many hotels, thinking that

there should be needed people with good and diverse language skills. Unfortunately this

was not the case due to the existing culture in the hotel business, namely that hotel

owners were increasing their income being sure that there will always be tourists in the

summer (tourism has always been the main industry in that country) and there were not

interested at all in offering another customer experience or hiring somebody with my

profile. “Amazing CV”, they said, “very impressive, but I have to hire a friend’s kid”. All in

all this turn out to be the wrong tool.

Then I decided to apply another tool. I was going through a bad depression at the time

and I had to find a way to make me think and to avoid being consumed by depression.

Thus I started teaching the languages that I could speak, which is a job that I did not

particularly enjoyed but it was the only way to earn a little money, and then I decided to

expand my knowledge in other fields so that I could be more employable, given that with

the profile that I had, I could not fully support myself and make a living.

3. Application: Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge (e.g.,

what you did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively).

I was determined that I will not be a failure and that I deserve a decent job and that I

deserve to survive. Thus I was teaching the languages that I knew and I started

studying again, different subjects, like business studies, that had nothing to do with the

profile I had at the time. It was a bit difficult to try a new beginning at my age, but I could

not see another way to survive financially. This choice came with many sacrifices, for

instance of sleep (some days I only slept 4 hours because I was doing other unqualified

jobs to support me financially) and I do not remember having fun these years. To avoid

the depression I tried to force a disciplined lifestyle, which would consist of waking up

very early in the morning, studying, then going to the minor jobs and then studying

again at night. By the way the minor jobs were offering very little pay with not the best

work conditions, environments or work culture as you may imagine. That was very

difficult for me sometimes. The tool seemed to be applied effectively because I became

more employable for higher paying jobs in other countries. After some years I migrated

and continued this living style while searching for a job that would allow me to live

decently.

4. Insight: Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your

challenge (e.g., how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about

design thinking more broadly).

Going through some miserable years, where most people are young, have fun and get

married, I have managed to survive at this point. Now I have a diverse business profile

which has made me more employable. From my side, I feel like an asset for a company

because I can offer consulting in many areas. Also having a diverse profile allows me to

apply to different jobs. I used to be narrow-minded, but to survive I had to become very

flexible, just like Darwin’s adapt or die quote. Sometimes I surprise myself with the fact

that I have become so flexible. I always try to evolve, to become a better person, to

learn more, to think more broadly. I still try to become comfortable with being

uncomfortable, which happens if you continue your studies in totally different areas. You

also have to learn to believe in yourself, to believe that you have the power, even when

people around you do not care and do not offer help.

5. Approach: Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool

you selected or a different one -- and the reason(s) why.

What I would do different next time, would be not to waste time waiting. If you see no

progress with plan A then go to plan B. Use every day to do something good for your

future or try to learn how to enjoy life. I absolutely love Winston Churchill’s quote “when

you are going through hell, keep going”. My advice would be to keep a broad

perspective, to be in touch with the reality of life, know how the job market works, do not

expect people to help you and to support you (unfortunately very few will), be strong. Do

not be sad if people are unkind to you, because this reflects their character not yours.

Do not let people limit your potential. Many people, including surprisingly teachers, have

told me that you cannot do that or you cannot achieve that, which I later did. As Steve

Jobs has said “Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice”. I

also think that education is one of the best investments in life, which is why I am

attending this course as well. When you keep learning, you keep evolving.

