13/365 - You are enough

2009

It was the end of October 2009 and I had gotten an email from Harrods, they were inviting me to an interview. The store that I had no courage to enter into was getting ready for the busiest time of the year and was in need of Christmas temps (temporary staff). Out of all the jobs I had applied to, guess which one they were calling me for? Waitressing, you probably guessed it, that was not even on my CV.

In the meantime we were still waiting for the work permit. The Romanian Embassy Attaché was saying that I was entitled to work even if the documents had not arrived, but everything was very confusing and I lived in fear that I would be offered a job and then be dismissed.

Throughout my time at Harrods I must have had at least a dozen of interviews, but I will never forget the first one.

Almost twenty people showed up to the interview that day, we were all together in the same room, they made us play roles and asked us many questions. I remember I was next to an Italian girl that could not understand English and I was whispering the translation to her. After what seemed a very long time, they said that we were done and that they will call us out one by one, give us some feedback and we will know if we passed in a few days. I was so happy it was over, I was looking forward to get home because I was hungry. There were four of us left in the room when they stopped calling people, one of the recruiters comes in and tells us that we passed and that if we want to return after lunch, we will be having an interview with the Food and Beverage Director. I had a job by the end of the day and I was due to start in 2 weeks. More to come…

Here is my two cents about believing in your strength enough to aim high and this is a conclusion that I drew in recent years.

I did not have to ask for asylum, I did not come on a boat or hidden in a truck, I did not fled a war - I have lived a privileged life or that is what I want to think.

I have always dismissed myself thinking that there are people that are “more” - more of anything - more happy, more strong, more unhappy, more unfortunate, more educated. Why should I speak? Why even try? Who I am I to say anything? There will always be someone that does it better than me.

But after a long time of pondering I have decided that I am enough. And just as simple as that things started to change!

The alternative was a half-lived life, fearful of not being enough, hurting everyone around me by not believing in myself. Unless you are alone on this world, not acknowledging your value does not only hurt you, the ones that love you too.

I have found balance in the idea that you have to be confident enough to dream, but humble enough to never stop learning!

You are enough!

You got this!