I Did The Thing - Part Two
"We signed the papers and we drove away..." - Paul Simon (I Do it For Your Love)
I believe that anything that takes time to accomplish goes by fleetingly when the moment arrives. Like when we got married...it took a year to plan...then in the blink of an eye the certificate was signed...the ceremony over...a new beginning had begun.
Setting the Stage
We were asked to be at the courthouse at 12:30pm (I enthusiastically embraced the experience). It took about an hour just to hand in our paperwork and get briefed on house keeping items related to our new status. To my surprise...the actual proceedings were less than thirty minutes.
I have to say over the course of about two hours... it was an amusing...awkward mix of rah rah... "Are YOU excited to become a Citizen!?"....coupled with "We are in a court of law so show decorum" with the officers repeatedly asking for people to remove their hats (including the people in the gallery who were not taking the hint). It almost felt like a group trying to conduct a celebration in a library.
It is for among these reasons that I started to get antsy to just get my certificate and leave.
Three Stories
All that aside...one thing I didn't know was they ask for three volunteers to come forward and share their immigration story. With very little encouragement... three were identified very quickly.
Then the judge came in...we took the Oath...and like a wedding...we moved to speeches. I have to admit... I shifted a bit in my seat as the first person came forward.... because like a wedding...I didn't know what to expect.
To my delight... this was truly the best part and I give full credit to the two women (one from India and one from Peru) and one man (from France) who generously shared their journeys.
Here is what they all had in common...
It took them twenty years to reach this moment
They came to the United States with nothing and hoped to make a better life for themselves
They worked hard and the road was not easy
They left behind the life they knew and found kindness...friendship and a sense of community in their new found homeland
Our Career Path
As I sit in the chair to write... I am reflecting not only on my own path to this moment (which I am almost embarrassed to admit was easier than anyone else in that room) but also how it mirrors my career path.
When I became a VP in my previous company...
it took twenty years
I hoped the title would make a better life for me and my family
I worked hard and the road was not easy
I left a lot behind to get where I was and found kindness...friendship and a sense of community along the way
What I did not anticipate was that reaching the title was not the "be all end all". It was truly just a fleeting part of my overall story. Each title we gain in our life... Work Related...Personal (Mother... Daughter... Wife... Sister... Friend.. Citizen) are just the beginning and it is what we make of it from that moment forward that defines us. It is also the people we keep along the way. Many will try to "cut us down...beat us down" or discourage us...and those that show kindness and a sense of community are the ones that matter most.
In Closing
For seventy-five individuals from thirty-three countries with sixteen of them changing their birth name...the long road to US citizenship was realized on Friday, March 24th 2023. As we raised our right hand and took the Oath in front of the judge he proclaimed..."My Fellow Citizens..."
I would be remiss if I didn't say that I was not only touched by the stories of my fellow citizens...but also Judge Dominic Lanza's story of his grandparents immigration from Italy and Diane from voter registration with her family's journey from Poland. They shared generously what it meant to be with us as we took this big step and they seemed genuinely happy to be there.
It reinforced for me...yet again...the importance of storytelling...how it connects us...and how it enhances our daily experience. Like the judge....as leaders...it puts those around us at ease and more inspired about the road ahead. It also helps if you are genuinely happy to be there!
So...I signed the paper (in black ink pen only) and I drove away... heart full... a new citizen and a registered voter too!
Leadership Questions of the Week for YOU:
What is YOUR observation about things in our life we prepare for...work towards...hope for?
What is YOUR story of "we signed the papers and we drove away"?
Can YOU think of a moment recently when storytelling is what made an event more memorable?
Does YOUR family have an immigration story? If YOU were to retell it...can you think of connections to YOUR career path or leadership journey?
Thanks for reading….and remember…YOU make a difference!
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