Learning...
I have been working at Giving It Back to Kids since 2012. It is my honor to be a part of GIBTK. I still remember the first several days working here. We had a small meeting to discuss about what we learned after we read a book. First of all, I thought it's weird, people came here to work but what they were doing is totally different. Here, we are not only working but also learning at the same time.
Normally, after graduation we want to have a job to work to show our skills. People normally don't want to learn, just start working, especially those who have worked for a long time. They think they know enough, they have good experience and skill and they are good enough. So why do they have to learn or why do they have to change? But let's think. Do you want to work smarter or harder?
Do you want to complete your task as fast as possible? That is the difference you will see when working here. GIBTK is an environment for everyone who is young, active and flexible. You need to accept challenge and change because they want you to be who you are and be the best you can be. In other companies, no matter how hard you work, no matter how good you are, you are just an employee. We always want to work up and to be a leader of something. But here, you are a leader, the director or boss is here for building you up, to empty their cup into your cup. I learn a lot when working here.
As Robert always reminds us that we are leaders and we can change and transform a nation. I was confused about how we can transform a nation. It is really a big idea and unreal, isn't it? But the more I work here, the more I can understand what Robert wants to do. By doing step by step, one by one we can change a generation. There is a library in the GIBTK office where we can borrow books or DVD's and read and learn. In those books there are many good lessons for us.
We can learn to define who we are and then you can know your strength, how to become a good leader, etc. Those things aim to help me and all the staff achieve our potential and improve our working skill. It is not only good for your work, but also for yourself. Sometimes mistakes happen, but it is ok as long as you learn from that and never let it happen again.
I am not a quick learner so I made a lot of mistakes, but Robert and chi Tam always open their arms to me. They help me to understand more about my work, direct me to the right way then I can learn more and improve myself.
You work for GIBTK but GIBTK also works for you. That is why we all need to learn, to improve ourselves both physically and mentally. Here we learn how to be a good leader, how to be a good person so we can pass it on to our kids in our homes and help them to be a good person. GIBTK is just like a family for all the staff and kids. They care for each of us in both physical and emotional needs.
One of the programs in GIBTK that impress me the most is Emotional Health Class. I am sure that no company in Vietnam has this class for their staff like us. You must wonder why we need to learn about emotional health as we are ok. What is it for? In fact, we are not ok. In this class you will learn how to deal with your emotion such as sadness, anger, guilt and shame, etc.
When I have something happen to me, I often try to leave it there, don't think about it and then another thing happens. I leave it in there. It is like a glass of water. Time after time it will rise up and overflow. Then, how can you deal with that in a healthy way? Or just feel angry will everyone you meet or put yourselves in a private place and berate yourself for that trouble? That is no good.
Honestly, I am a hot tempered person and I am easy to get angry. Instead of finding the healthy way to express that feeling, I would be mad at everyone I meet at that time and they would be hurt, which meant I destroy my relationship with others. Now I learned how to express my feelings and have healthy behavior and live better. Yes, GIBTK changes me and I am happy about it.
After times working here, learning many new things, now I can say: "yeah we are different, we do things differently and we can do many other different things to change my country. Nothing is impossible and I believe that GIBTK can do it". One sentence that I like the most is: Never give up and you can do it. Thank you for letting me be a part of GIBTKs. I can give my love to the unfortunate children in Vietnam, especially in Danang.
Sincerely;
Hien
