Amal Academy: Visualizing My Experience!
Literally, the entire experience of the three months has been simply incredible. In the end, it seemed like I was in a three-hour class. However, the first sessions and online courses were challenging due to technology glitches. This difficulty drains my motivation and keeps me trapped on this issue, yet I’ve managed to overcome it. Amal Values are placed directly in front of my face on my table, motivating me and reminding me of the last one in fellowship, i-e, Growth.
Journey at the Start
At first, I knew nothing about the Amal Fellowship. My Linkedin profile was inundated with Amal certificates and recognitions in the fall of 2021. I’m not sure what it is about them that appeals to me, but I decided to give it a shot. As a wise man once observed,
“Its better to try and fail than never try at all”.
I failed in my first attempt due to my schedule, but I tried again in Spring 2022 and was surprised to be selected. I was eager to join the diverse student body and learn something more than academics. At the time, I was looking for ways to improve my employability, and the Amal Fellowship was a perfect option for me. The in-person sessions opportunity was a cherry on the top. I had to enroll in virtual sessions due to personal time constraints.
At first, I found it challenging to balance the three-hour session on weekends with practically the same amount of time for the online course throughout the week. To be honest, I was skeptical about the value of online fellowship. I thought of coming into the same hassle of virtual classes as in university.
But I joined this fellowship with my core dedication and passion; yes, in the beginning, when I was assigned with university final term assignments as well, I considered quitting the fellowship, but my inner self told me not to because I was fortunate to be selected for the fellowship and wanted to learn something new after the difficult time of Covid’19. The blended learning style, which included interactive online courses and project work, was so rigorous that it transformed my perspective after only one session. Later, I recognized that joining this fellowship was one of the best decisions I’d ever made.
Learning in the First Two Weeks
- Identifying Personal and Professional Goals
Imagine waking up in the driver’s seat with no idea where you’re going. That was my situation before setting my goals. This activity gives my life purpose — I am now more in tune with the overall picture of my life rather than simply today. Pursuing goals has shown me that it is a beautiful way to learn more about yourself — I’ve discovered my main priorities, how strategic I can be, and how to handle difficulties and overcome obstacles. I am now more focused when judging what is truly important to my development, beliefs, and values.
2. Knowing Yourself and Values Display
The goal was to choose your values from a variety of lists. First and foremost, I find it absurd since I thought I cared about all of the values mentioned. But as I started removing values one by one until I was left with only four, I realized what I care about beyond myself. I get to know how significant these values are in our lives and how they form the basis of our self-identity. Reflecting on and writing about important values allows me to transcend self-image and self-worth.
Embark on Journey of Self Discovery
This experience was all about finding yourself and your hidden potential. Throughout this journey, I was exposed to many fun-loving activities, extensive online courses, and writing project work. At first, I did not think that I’d be able to get so much work with my final exams, but I’ve learned that it’s all about your dedication and commitment.
Finally, I would like to thank my mentors who have helped me reach my full potential in the fellowship. Their encouragement and support have brought me to this point in my life.