[Thread] Have you ever been humbled despite your privilege?
A faded memory dawned on me early this morning while commuting to work, as I saw few kids leaving for school. A few years back, I was teaching underprivileged children in a distant government school as a part of a social initiative. We asked kids, What do you want to become when you grow up?” I really felt humbled and privileged when the kids responded with Policeman, Driver, Mechanic, Patwari(govt official who keeps record of lands) etc. We even remarked that whether they would prefer to be a pilot. And they responded with No. Perhaps, it was representative of things that they knew could achieve and things they could not. It may even have been that their initial choices were likely due to positions of power that they had witnessed and wanted to emulate. Probably, they were not exposed to various options that exist out there. As my cab whirred away, I was left with a deep sense of gratitude upon recollection of those memories. I really hope those kids achieve whatever they set their sights at.
IndiaKaPM
Stealth
a year ago
I grew up in a small village in Bihar, where dreams were often simple and humble. There was only a small government school, but I never went. Instead, I worked in a vegetable shop and my uncle's store, dreaming of having my own shop one day.
Then I found work in a cyber cafe, and the internet opened up a new world to me. I discovered a university in Delhi NCR and earned a scholarship there. I graduated with honors and now work at a fintech as an APM.
I know I wasn't supposed to be here, but I am. People believed in me, and I made it. Next time you find yourself among those kids, tell them about the skies and how it feels to soar. Who knows? Maybe one day they'll take to the skies, not just as pilots but as legends, their wings crafted by the belief that they can be more than what the world expects them to be.
Man, this reminds me of one day when we went for a CSR activity in school run by NGO. We painted the boundary walls and then had some time with kids. We asked some questions and some of them gave absurd answers I told them, kal yaad karke aana. The kid said with straight face "mujhe pata hai aap kal nahi aaoge" they knew this poverty tourism and saw through this sham of 'doing for the society ' we do in name of CSR
Lost my dad when I was 8, family never had any asset, we had nothing, my mother used to stitch clothes to educate us, looking back 15 years, i would have not imagined I would be keeping my mom in a 2 bhk furnished apartment in Bangalore. I don't know how i landed in my job.
@DutifulChop8 And that is life folks. It gives you gifts that you never imagined.
Biskoot99
Stealth
a year ago
You worked hard. Your mother worked hard. That’s how you landed in your job. Your mother must be so proud of you. Feel so happy just reading this :)
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Virat_Kohli
Stealth
a year ago
As a kid, I never dreamt of working in an advertising agency. Initially, I wanted to become a pilot and a part-time sketch artist. As I grew up, I dreamt of becoming a pace bowler, my family never supported my interest in sports and I was too young to have a clashing opinion with them.
Around the period when I was in 9th or 10th grade, I developed an interest in films. I started to understand the stories, read about the industry. In college, I made some like minded friends and my interest in the industry grew stronger,. I was sure that I want to get into film making and make a career in it. I didn't know at that point, that there will be responsibilities and family pressure.
Now, working in an advertising agency, I still dream of making films, and build a career in this industry but then my manager calls me for team meeting.
@Nirav_Modi I can totally concur with this. Life gets just too hard when so many stakeholders vested in your life.
Biskoot99
Stealth
a year ago
1. During college, there was this social service club called Dayitva - not much social service, just visit Missionaries if Charity and spend time with the residents there. They were mostly women who were abandoned. There was a small section for men too. I remember, in my first visit - I spent time with this Bengali woman who’d had a memory loss. Since I spoke to her in Bengali - she told me about her home and how badly she wanted to go back to her husband. The warden nun later mentioned that her family had given her up. In my 2nd visit, she somehow assumed I was going to take her to her husband and she wouldn’t let go of my wrist. Managed to somehow leave their room and run out. At the entry/exit area - they had just brought in an old disabled man with maggots on his open wound.
I remember feeling heavy all they way back, and even grateful that I had functioning limbs, friends, and a family that sent me pocket money every month apart from everything else they have given me.
2. On Monday, this week, my BluSmart driver had his daughter with him in the front seat. His wife was in the hospital and no one was there to watch the child. He couldn’t skip work because that would mean a pay cut which he couldn’t afford (he was extremely apologetic about the inconvenience it might have caused me)
I realise I have too many privileges to even count. Grateful and humbled.
@Biskoot99 both stories are insanely heart wrenching yet it makes you feel oh so great ful for where you are rn.
Every single day. When I walk with my pods in my ear roaming around my colony for my morning walk, and see countless men and women walking and riding on their cycles going to their workplace. Gaurds, House Helps, and more.
Not one day when I don't feel thankful for the extreme privilege that I live in.
@SaneRider4 That’s why I make it a point to thank everyone who assists me in achieving whatever I do everyday.
My mum and dad were in the Indian Railways and in 1970s while growing up there were steam engines and they looked huge and complicated to the young mind , my brother and I would always said that we wanted to be engine drivers or the guard as we saw the guard being someone important …. Time flew by and today looking back I smile at that memory …. How circumstances , peers and your social ecosystem set your inutile goals , today I have my own hotel asset management company and at 56 years of age I still have my dreams that remain to be achieved , all I have Is gratitude and a true belief in serendipity, God has been kind for a guy who is an undergraduate and with a diploma ….
LooseGoose
Stealth
a year ago
Was a very depressed teenager in my 11th and 12th, therapy wasn't helping. Mom forced me to go volunteer for Make A Difference. My area and school where I had to teach was actually inside a hospital and housed kids with disabilities (bad limbs, visual impairment etc).
Took me just a few weeks to understand how privileged I am, really grounded and humbled me. Some of the kids there had a lot of potential despite their impairments.
Ended up volunteering there for almost a year before I had to shift cities for college. Really fulfilling experience.
Inspired from this. Started a new post here.
Checkout this post on Grapevine - https://share.gvine.app/P4WHy3cwyYeq3C1E9
How do you folks overcome the guilt of privilege that we have compared to blue collar folks?
Being self-aware, I understand how privileged I am. In spite of whatever is happening in the startup ecosystem, most of us are extremely privileged.
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