When I first walked into an Australian office, I felt completely out of place. Everything was new to me including the culture, the fashion, the way people spoke. As a migrant, I just wanted to do the right thing. I didn’t want to cause trouble or make mistakes. So I found myself comfortable working follow instructions. I didn’t trust myself to act on my own.
One moment really stuck with me. I was working as a caseworker and met a Vietnamese client who spoke the same language as me. I thought it would be helpful to speak Vietnamese so she could understand better. But then, one colleague told me I wasn’t allowed to speak my language with clients. I felt nervous. I asked another colleague, and they said it was fine. Finally, I asked my manager, and she confirmed that it was okay.
That experience made me hesitate. I started second-guessing myself, even when I knew what to do. I didn’t want to make the wrong choice, so I stopped making choices at all.
But I knew I couldn’t grow if I kept waiting. I wanted to build initiative, the courage to act without needing permission. So I started small. I made little decisions each day. I wrote in my journal to reflect on what I did and why. I asked myself, “What values do I want to follow?”
I also looked for safe places to practice. I joined a Toastmasters club to learn how to speak up and lead with confidence. I volunteer with CMY as an Independent Person, supporting young people at police stations. These experiences push me to make decisions in real time, even when things feel uncertain. They help me trust myself and speak up for others.
What I’ve learned:
– Initiative doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being brave enough to try.
– Mistakes are part of learning. What matters is how we respond.
– When we act from our values, we build confidence, not just for ourselves, but for those we support.