I choose to challenge myself
In light of a wonderful weekend I spent in a virtual dance bootcamp and this year’s International Women’s Day theme, I started thinking about some of the challenges I encountered so far that helped me be the best version of me.
When I did my first research project during my undergraduate studies and wanted to present it at a local students’ congress, my supervisor told me that my presentation skills are so bad, I should not even try. Academic career is probably not for you, she said. Challenge accepted! I practiced day and night. And although that particular presentation did not go very well, I remembered her comment in 2019, when I received my doctoral degree from Charité University in Berlin.
I love dancing, but I was never the best dancer. I find it difficult to learn choreographies. My technique has never been perfect and my body (or posture) could never be mistaken for a dancer’s body. Dancing has found ways to break my heart many times in many different ways. For years, I have been telling myself that I got as good as I can be in different types of dance, and that’s good enough. So, during the last lockdown, I decided to challenge myself and start taking an online kizomba class. My technique and style are still nowhere near good, but I have been showing up in front of my computer every Friday evening for over three months now. I also make videos to track progress.
In 2018, my partner was offered a great job in London. At the time, we lived in Berlin, where both of us had decent jobs, a nice flat in Friedrichshain and a great group of friends. It was an exciting challenge, but I was anxious as I needed to find a job as well, in a place where I had no personal or professional network. Apart from my own doubts, recruiters on LinkedIn were not helpful. Although I had a doctorate and couple of years of experience in academia and in a biotech, they encouraged me to apply for entry level jobs because I was ‘new to the market’. I decided that’s not the way to go, so I tried on my own. After a number of rejections, I was finally invited to two interviews and within two months I had two job offers. Now, I always try to encourage anyone who is ready for a change in scenery — moving to another country should never slow down your career!
For this year’s International Women’s Day, my pledge is to continue challenging all the brick walls that stand between me and all the things I ‘can’t do’.
