Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

I work with rural populations where education is not very much encouraged and appreciated, thus  people are remote from the developments happening around them in their neighborhood cities and the  rest of the world. Experiencing the latest technology still being far, getting basic infrastructure and  facilities is a dream of life for this population. Few of the reasons are, not everyone can afford education  and the others are people being ignorant themselves. People lack proper direction and encouragement.  I spend a lot of time with different groups explaining them value of education and inspiring them to be  educated. When I work with school kids, we share the importance of basic knowledge and also share the  different career paths one can choose to lead a happy and a successful life.  Often they lack proper  direction and are unaware of different choices they could possibly make. They feel happy and excited to  know about different opportunities. I have also had different sessions with high school and college  students where in students are not much aware of what they want to achieve in their life. The  challenges they face are i) Not aware of different career paths, ii) Have not seen someone amongst  them achieve those different paths etc. I share my story of how I have challenged myself at different  stages and have taken advice from different people to get myself educated. I share stories of my life in  order to help them visualize their growth, I use their feedback against the context of my story to  ascertain their goals, and sometimes we use stories to better understand their interests and thought  processes. I use this information to develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for  them to gain more independence in the areas they find lacking in their lives.

Application

While explaining the importance of education to the different groups, I came across this one group of  high school students who were in keen to learn science and related subjects. When I explained them the  theories of basics physics and chemistry in regular group discussions, there were few students who  required individual help. In discussing policy changes with the school management, I was trying to  explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach, among other things, and in  particular, of recognizing each person as a unique being, and addressing their individual needs first and  foremost. The school always believed only regular classes would be sufficient for the education of  students and failed to get good results. I was also explaining how sometimes addressing the needs of  one individual can impact everyone for the better, even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary. I told  a story about when we were working on a project and the entire team seemed to be fairly charged up  except for one guy who was not very confident with his work and was emotionally low. I sat down with  him and let him share his thoughts. It turned out that his father, who was with him, had just survived a  heart attack but was worried that he may not be completely fit as he was before.

Insight & Approach

That was an indeed an eye-opener. His father was a calm presence and doing very well. Clearly it was  time for me to open up with my story. I told him how scary it was when my father had his cardiac arrest   in front of me and how I had to get him to the hospital and how difficult and scary that all was. I shared  how he recovered well, and then tied us together, by noting how he and I both have parents who  survived heart attacks. This worked really well. He really needed individual attention for that brief time,  and he ended up with that and a true support.

So I told this story to the school management, and I think it had a big impact on people there. The  strategies are being revisited and the professors are going through new training. Sometimes a little story  can do a lot of good.

I have a design background, but I ended up as an entrepreneur in business. I had no idea this would ever  be considered an asset, but I am so very grateful that it is!


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge & Selection I work with rural populations where education is not very much encouraged and appreciated , thus people are remote from the developments happening around them in their neighborhood cities and the rest of the world . Experiencing the latest technology still being far , getting basic infrastructure and facilities is a dream of life for this population . Few of the reasons are , not everyone can afford education and the others are people being ignorant themselves . People lack proper direction and encouragement . I spend a lot of time with different groups explaining them value of education and inspiring them to be educated . When I work with school kids , we share the importance of basic knowledge and also share the different career paths one can choose to lead a happy and a successful life . Often they lack proper direction and are unaware of different choices they could possibly make . They feel happy and excited to know about different opportunities . I have also had different sessions with high school and college students where in students are not much aware of what they want to achieve in their life . The challenges they face are i ) Not aware of different career paths , ii ) Have not seen someone amongst them achieve those different paths etc . I share my story of how I have challenged myself at different stages and have taken advice from different people to get myself educated . I share stories of my life in order to help them visualize their growth , I use their feedback against the context of my story to ascertain their goals , and sometimes we use stories to better understand their interests and thought processes . I use this information to develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for them to gain more independence in the areas they find lacking in their lives . Application While explaining the importance of education to the different groups , I came across this one group of high school students who were in keen to learn science and related subjects . When I explained them the theories of basics physics and chemistry in regular group discussions , there were few students who required individual help . In discussing policy changes with the school management , I was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach , among other things , and in particular , of recognizing each person as a unique being , and addressing their individual needs first and foremost . The school always believed only regular classes would be sufficient for the education of students and failed to get good results . I was also explaining how sometimes addressing the needs of one individual can impact everyone for the better , even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary . I told a story about when we were working on a project and the entire team seemed to be fairly charged up except for one guy who was not very confident with his work and was emotionally low . I sat down with him and let him share his thoughts . It turned out that his father , who was with him , had just survived a heart attack but was worried that he may not be completely fit as he was before . Insight & Approach That was an indeed an eye - opener . His father was a calm presence and doing very well . Clearly it was time for me to open up with my story . I told him how scary it was when my father had his cardiac arrest in front of me and how I had to get him to the hospital and how difficult and scary that all was . I shared how he recovered well , and then tied us together , by noting how he and I both have parents who survived heart attacks . This worked really well . He really needed individual attention for that brief time , and he ended up with that and a true support . So I told this story to the school management , and I think it had a big impact on people there . The strategies are being revisited and the professors are going through new training . Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good . I have a design background , but I ended up as an entrepreneur in business . I had no idea this would ever be considered an asset , but I am so very grateful that it is !