Volunteering at CRP and the lessons learnt
A few years ago, I volunteered at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Bangladesh to provide clinical supervision and neurology lectures for the local Speech and Language Therapy students studying there.
This experience was one of the most influential in my career to date. Not only did I have to adapt to a new language, culture and healthcare system, it tested my clinical and teaching skills enormously. It was a true step out of my comfort zone and I have memories I will treasure forever.
As well as the clinical skills I gained and tested, I also realised a new perspective. Whilst there, I met a fellow Speech and Language Therapist and now friend, who had recently retired.She reflected on her successful career as a health professional and told me that she had become exhausted within certain roles in the past, even though she believed she was entirely interested in the area she was working and had been established in it for many years.
She came to the realisation that when you hit that point, you need to take a step back and change your direction. I had never heard of anyone speak so honestly and be so clear that sometimes nothing else will do other than trying something new.
At the time, it did make me take a fantastic new direction when I returned to the UK and I often think about that conversation now.
So here I am trying something new again and thank you to everyone who has supported me so far.
