Finding My Tribe: Journey of a Policy Rookie
“Yo ek dharni aalu ko kati ho?”, my mother inquired to a local vegetable vendor on the roadside. Against the backdrop of Panchkhal’s reddish mud and sweltering heat, I noticed a small group of children chatting as they carried buckets of water. As they approached closer to our car, tiny beads of sweat dripped down their faces, out of breath yet smiling. In that moment, I felt a sudden pang of guilt as I sat comfortably inside an air-conditioned vehicle, watching them pass by. This sense of guilt lingered with me for several days, particularly because these children appeared to be around my age. At that time, as a 12-year-old, I couldn't fully grasp the broader implications, but I strongly felt a desire for change and a determination to contribute to it. This was just one of numerous instances that left me with a nagging feeling of guilt and aspiration. These intense feelings arise from empathy, an innate colorful lens to understanding our world.
Tejeswi KC,2nd October,2024,
As long as I can recall, I’ve always been an empathetic individual. Over the years, I’ve learned to nurture my empathy in a deeper understanding both of myself and those around me. If food is fuel for our body, empathy is fuel for my soul. And this fuel drives my compassion into a yearning desire to contribute towards improving the lives of those less fortunate. Unfortunately, the world is full of haves and haves not. Together with compassion and aspiration, there exists a reality for change for the haves not. A tangible possible reality that requires a persistent and rigorous journey towards the vision, and Daayitwa shares the very vision.
As a Daayitwa Fellow, I have experienced an interesting and flavorsome taste of reality. The Daayitwa fellowship accurately highlights the intricacy and complexity of being a policy researcher, glaring at societal issues, and engaging with stakeholders requires commitment and adaptability skill. You truly believe that you have perfected your research and crafted an evidence-driven policy masterpiece, but you will be proven wrong. The unspoken journey of a researcher requires constant refinement, mulling over a cup of coffee, or having an existential crisis over research project feasibility. It is challenging yet the fellowship offers ample learning, growth, and opportunity. One of the challenges of being a researcher is learning to plan project schedules (time management skill) and learning to deal with bureaucracy, and stakeholders (people’s skill). Full disclosure: you will have to tackle numerous curveballs, being resilient is the key. Amidst this beautiful chaos, you are surrounded by fellows who support you and never miss a day of enjoying kulfi after lunch.
The journey of a policy researcher is driven by an aspiration to change. Aspiration is a powerful, ingrained force within us to transform our dreams into reality. Daayitwa Fellowship provides such a platform to reconnect with one’s aspirations and research. And each time you encounter hurdles, remind yourself why you are here and what is your end goal. Personally, I think back to the curious 12-year-old, and each victory and loss that have led me closer to my aspiration. And that is my mantra, coupled with vision, resilience, and motivation. So, find your tribe and amplify your collective dream, for life is fleeting.
“If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough” - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian politician and economist; First elected female head of state in Africa.