Over the weekend I was having conversation with my dear friend Krutika and it ended with question to me as to what drives me to do social work.
I had never gone deep thinking about it but today as I am sitting with coffee I pondered over it.
One by one thoughts started coming to me and it revealed interesting aspects of myself.
I enjoy coordinating multiple systems that helps to push cause ,issue, projects that I take up. Based on my experience effective coordination is very critical as one has to deal with multiple agencies, professional bodies and ground level people. Again people have very different socio, economic, cultural background. I can understand their feelings, grudges and inhibitions. I can bring everyone together without making them uncomfortable.
I get to use my planning, managing and organizing skills. At times it feels like I am running a complex project which keeps me on my toes by forcing me to monitor status, bottlenecks and turnarounds. I have to troubleshoot and find a solution. This drives me.
Problem-solving is my thing and I get to do a lot of that as a social worker. I drive to find way a forward. Often the process is stuck and if seems that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I sit back and think what next and make sure I find a way out.
I can use my creativity in many areas within the social work. I absolutely love singing and professionally sing at various forums. I have experienced that this has helped in many ways – to lighten things up , to break the ice, to motivate others to be vocal and to bring people closer. I particularly remember this incident – we were terribly frustrated by response form one of the agencies and started talking about giving up issue . And in middle of the conversation someone used word ruk ( means Stop in Hindi) and I don’t know how but I bursted into a song “ Ruk jana nahi tu kahin haar ke…..” and yes it definitely changed the mood.
And yes it give me sense of purpose and fulfillment to make even the smallest difference to even a single person.