Settling In (Fellowship Reflection Series #10)

7:24 am Wednesday (September 7, 2022)

After two weeks, here in DC, I am gradually settling in. Few things that I have been able to notice and take away from in the last two weeks:

1. Intellectual Humility- Almost all the colleagues at the Center for Education are Doctors of Education with a considerable amount of experience and impact they have created not just in their society but all around the globe. Our, gender and equity team is a group of seven and with me being the youngest team member, the one who is yet to complete her Ph.D., there are times I hear their level of conversation and feel perplexed about the depth of knowledge they have. Yet, the love and respect I have received from all of them have helped me explore and open up further. Usually, I take a lot of time to open up. Surprisingly I have adapted quickly to this organizational setting with enough support and love.

Echidna Global Scholars 2022 with the Gender and Equity team at CUE

2. Understanding our Colleagues - We had three days of intensive workshops just to understand the background, the personality, our habitual patterns, and how might we be difficult to work with and shared with each other. It helped us understand why someone keeps on asking about the deadlines while someone keeps on talking about the food stalls. The supervisors and the old staffs of the department too were part of the workshops and shared about them. It helped us become more connected.

One of the personalities with whom we are working together with

3. Orientation and Resources: Something that I will take away in my organization is the hiring process that they had. Brookings is still operating in a hybrid system. But the Human Resource Department is so active that they make sure everyone is oriented about the culture, the norms, the policies and there’s enough time for food and fun. With around 40,000 books the library is in itself huge but every week emails on the updated list of books and journals from the librarians motivates you to read further.

4. Meaningful Connection- Shrill Shrestha, one of our mentees from the first cohort of our mentorship program happens to be here. We met approximately after five years and the connection that I felt was instant. He has been no less than a brother and was able to see immense growth in him. Investing in relationships has been beautiful.

5. Exploration: I have been very mindful to make the most out of the time I am here. Working is always fun for me. So there are chances that I don’t think of other things apart from work, so I have been mindfully separating my time to find new places, explore new food, culture, and art, and also explore myself and reflect further. I love reading in a nearby park, googling a random place and making a trip, spending time with friends, and also giving time for my physical and mental well-being.

In the upcoming weeks, I have scheduled to meet a lot of people related to my work. Hopefully, I will be able to find a balance in learning, exploration, and my well-being.