by Sabrina Galella
It has been a year since I embarked upon this amazing journey that is working at JustRight Scotland. One year already!
I started one year ago as the Policy & Public Affairs Officer, with a brand new “to-do-list” notepad, ready to take on the challenge and change the world one Zoom meeting at a time.
It took me one minute to know I was surrounded by amazing, truly inspirational colleagues, not only within JustRight Scotland (JRS), but all our partners too. It also took one minute for my imposter syndrome to kick in; why these knowledgeable, successful people would trust me with briefings and meetings was beyond me. But they all did, and I was given time to learn, to adjust, to understand, to grow; there are, of course, uncountable things I still don’t know today, and I still doubt myself here and there, but I know I am trusted, and I know I can count on my colleagues for help, and that is not something I take for granted.
So, all in all, it has been 365 days of everything!
My role at JustRight Scotland
There have been days filled with a deep sense of pride for the work that we do, to know we are using our skills, time, and privilege to try and make a difference in people’s lives is what gives me hope, is what drives me to know more, do more, offer more. It gives meaning to the daily struggles and the constant setbacks.
On most days, I feel passionate and enthusiastic, and it can be about the simplest things like writing a brief, delivering a presentation, starting a new project, or continuing working on the long ones. These are the days when I learn the most, and when I am grateful for belonging to this small family that is the third sector in Scotland.
And then, of course, there are the tough days. When all is grim, because let’s face it, it is grim. When frustration takes over, and all the consultations we responded to, and the training we delivered, and the meetings we hosted, feel like the tiniest drop in an ocean that continues to be polluted by hatred, injustice, discrimination, all floating on top of plastic of course. To find hope, despite the Nationality and Borders Act, despite Brexit, despite the New Bill of Rights, takes strength. And I must admit, I don’t always have that strength.
But if there is one thing I learned after a year at JRS is to take the time to celebrate the small victories, because they tell a story that is about perseverance, resilience, and hope, and that is a story always worth writing.
