I only started working ten years ago and the first time I traveled abroad was when I moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2002, I was 22 years old. I was never on a plane before being an expat. Fast forward 18 years later I have traveled to more than 35 countries and some countries I have had the pleasure of visiting multiple times. In between my travels, I have visited my own country keeping my connection with my family. The airport has become a second home for me and my kids. My son is only ten years old and has been to 32 countries.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I made a promise to show her the world instead of saving to buy a house that she would inherit when I am old or dead. I invested in my education. I studied for my Bachelors in Communication Science while being a mum and wife.
I was living in a foreign country, adapting to the culture, learning what parenting was and trying to complete a four years Bachelor. I had no family to support and help me. It was tough, I struggled, but I become a stronger person. After graduating with honors, I worked for a month at a Marketing company which I soon realized was not for me. I was spending too many hours in the office and would only see my daughter in the evenings.
I left my job and decided to self-reflect and find out what I wanted from life. Spending time with my daughter was precious. I wanted a career and needed to show my daughter that a woman can be independent while being a mother.
I wanted a job that would allow me to be at home before my kids got home from school. I wanted to travel and have time with them. I wanted a lifestyle that I chose not one that I had to adapt to.
I woke up one morning, got into my car with my resume and decided to get a teaching job. I was determined to find a career that suited the lifestyle I wanted before committing to further studies. I was lucky to find an opening at a private school. After a few months of teaching. I flew back to my country to complete my CELTA, click here to find out how to apply and how to achieve it https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/teaching-qualifications/celta/about-the-celta-course/ CELTA is a certificate in language teaching.
I knew I needed to gain experience that would be recognizable to future educational institutions. Teaching with only my Bachelors in Communications would not be considered as teaching experience. Many, countries are specific about teaching qualifications and accept teachers who have a Bachelors in Education or a Bachelors and CELTA or TESOL.
The CELTA is an intense ten-week course and is expensive. I suggest taking the course if you are serious about teaching abroad and want a career change. After teaching for a few months, I took myself and family on an all-expenses trip to Sri Lanka.
While working as a teacher, I was able to be the mother that I thought my kids needed. I had more time during school holidays to be with them. My goal was to travel to as many countries with them so that they could learn about different cultures and gain a broader perspective on the world. I wanted them to be people of the world and not only restrict themselves to only their nationality.
I was achieving my goals as a mum, career women & traveling, but I wanted more from life. I started training myself to run. I loved running since I was a teenager. I entered my first 10 km race in Dubai in 2014 and was awarded 2500 Dirhams (680 USD) for being one of the top 10 fastest runners. I was standing on stage with professional marathon runners. It felt unbelievable. Three months later I took 3rd Position in the female category for a Desert Run in Abu Dhabi. I continued to pursue my fitness challenges and transformed my body creating my own fitness techniques and eating healthy. I had no muscle and was unable to lift 5 kg weight four years ago. I am now able to lift 25 kg weights, and I feel strong.
I learned how to manage my time. I had to give up my career path for my kids and find a new path in life so that I could still be a full-time mum. I say give up, but in a positive tone, I have no regrets instead of working in an office I work in a classroom.
It doesn’t matter what choices you have to make in life, what you have to give up to make your life work. What matters is what you do in your life. How you use your time after your day at work has ended. How you use your money. My goals and yours are different. The most important advice I can give anyone is to always have goals.
Whenever I had to make life-changing decisions, I took time to reflect. I sought advice, but I stayed mindful. I weighed the pros and cons and ultimately made decisions that benefited me. I recall so many of my friends who I thought were my friends judging me for the choices I made. Today they are no longer my friends. They had no idea how I was managing my time. What my goals were. They were wrong about me.
I am not stopping, and you shouldn’t either. I want to help people make the right choices. I have created a platform to inspire and motivate people to achieve success every day.
Thank you for taking the time to read my journey.
Please accept this quote I wrote as an offering to find your motivation
“I am much more than even I know. I am in a constant process of learning who I am”. Shahida Sahib / Superlady!
