How to chase dreams and opportunities, even if it has to be the greatest challenge of your life

After working for more than ten years as a professional banker, enjoying the fruits of hard work, an email from AADF representatives changed my plans totally for the next six following months. It was a late evening on a rainy November day when I read the email speedily on my mobile phone. My five-year-old son was waiting for his dinner and I was in rush to fill my mom’s duties after a long office day. While I was serving dinner I was talking to my husband in regard to the acceptance email from AADF, which was a confirmation of passing the first phase.  I was feeling emotional and excited at the same time. His short answer was so precise and left me even more in doubt. “Maybe you have to wait until the final phase of selection, because who knows”.  It was late at night when I was reading the email confirming my first interview appointment. At that time a ton of emotions and thoughts went through my mind. A part of me was in competition and saying: you better succeed to be selected and the other part was asking: will you be ready to start e new chapter and chase your professional dreams?
After 1 month I received the big news that I was one of the MIP fellows. At that moment I had some butterflies in my stomach about moving to the USA, new opportunities coming on my way, experiencing new challenges, and enjoying the new country. I was not fully convinced in myself that I was able to leave my family back in Albania and leave in America for the next 6 months until I was talking with my son about this experience. I said to myself a simple question: either you have to tell your one day to your son that you let this huge professional and cultural exchange opportunity or you chase new experiences and overcome challenges that come your way. And I said which one are you, girl? A dream chaser, ambitious, or will stay in your comfort zone. Days went by so fast and I found myself on the plane to Chicago, one of the biggest cities in the USA. Once I arrived, I left my suitcases at the home and together with my Albanian roommate started exploring the iconic areas of the city. When you are walking around the city you can see different vivid neighbors, amazing bridges that connect the city north and south, modern skyscrapers some of them serving the largest corporations, and several contemporary and classic architectural buildings around lake Michigan. When I came back home I understood that this city has a whole different vibe, full of glam, mixed cultures, and full of unexpected.
The first days had passed by and Monday has come. I entered the Aon Center, a fascinating skyscraper and I was amazed by the impeccable architecture and organization. I had a warm welcoming day with my supervisor who is also the Claims Director, in the unit where I had to work. The first day’s agenda was so busy and I didn’t realize how the time went by. As I was struggling to install all the applications and gain all the accesses as a new user I had also to be part of some team meetings with other teams operating in other countries for a project that Aon has launched recently. For them it was so good that a new member has joined and will bring new ideas, but believe me, it was not as easygoing as it looked like. The first day was difficult taking into consideration the fast working pace in a financial service company and you have to learn their way of multitasking. It may look like a game when we do it at home, but on that day even arranging my three desktops at the office desk seemed different. Insecurities were there with me, as a result of being in a totally new area of expertise and working environment.
Now it has been almost 2 months here in the USA and has been a whole bunch of emotions and new experiences. I have met new amazing people from different nationalities, having a totally new working and living culture.
To me, it is a new milestone in my growth process as an individual and professional. I am trying to learn as much as I can and get the best out of everything. Now I feel very excited that I overcome all of my doubts about coming to the USA.

I bet that this New Year will be the most memorable and fun one. I could not imagine that my new year will start in the Best Big City in the United States chosen for the 6^th year in a row by Condé Nast Traveler. Cheers for the New Year to come and one of the most valuable experiences of my life!

©️ Evisa Kushi, MIP Internship Fellow 2022