The story of Mr. Mahbub, who wanted to return to Bangladesh has 3 jobs now!!
I OFTEN SAY WE MUST AT FIRST NEED TO KNOW WHAT 100% EFFORTS MEAN. SHOULD ONE KNOW AND FOLLOW THAT HE/SHE MUST SUCCEED EXCEPT A LOW PERCENT OF UNSUCCESSFUL CASES. THE FOLLOWING IS THE CONTINUATION OF MY EFFORT TO BRING YOU THE SUCCESS STORIES OF OUR FELLOW IMMIGRANTS. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES OF THE IMMIGRANTS AND MOST OF US HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE, THEREFORE WE MUST HEAR THE SUCCESS STORY, NO MATTER HOW SMALL IT IS, IT WILL INSPIRE US TO CARRY ON AND BE HOPEFUL. LET’S LISTEN Mr. Mahbub’s STORY.
A story of 100%, 99% and 1%!!!
…now I am doing a full-time permanent job at LOFT Community Services. I am also working as a Relief Community Shelter Worker at Homes First Society, and I should say I am getting bombarded with calls from Homes First with request to accept shifts. And the very latest, I have just received an offer from the City of Toronto.
WOW! ‘That’s amazing’, ‘simply awesome’- these are some of the words now I hear from my near and dear ones. But this was not the scenario for me just few months before. Rather, the situation was completely different where the ultimate phrase that would come to my mind was “good for nothing”. I was completely frustrated with my life with failure, wrong plan, and no job that made me think that I am running behind the will-o’-the-wisp. Frustration encompassed with every single negative thought was my only companion at those days. However, “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”-this stanza by P.B. Shelley once again has been proved to be true to my case.
Let me pull the arrow back to throw it forth. It’s been 3 years I have been here in Canada. In terms of receiving education, I had one thing in my mind from back home that I would take Certificate in Canadian Social Work Practice (IESW Bridging Program) at Ryerson since I have a Master’s degree in SW from Bangladesh. Prior to enroll into that program I decided to work and eventually I started working in a T-shirt shop owned by a Bangladeshi ($8/HR). Then I started working at Rogers Centre for McDonald-Cole agency and again I could work for only 3 days for that season.
As planned, I got myself enrolled in the IESW Bridging Program for 2015-2016. Placement under the IESW Program was the first and biggest opportunity for me to gain that experience which I simply ruined. I chose Children’s Aid Society for my placement that was totally a wrong choice for me. I was unable to bring a good note from the organization and eventually I had to suffer a lot- no interview call let alone job. I stopped applying. In the meantime, I was blessed with a baby boy. OSAP money was over. I was in a fix what to do. Life became a standstill for me. I was even thinking of going back home and I had my ticket booked to fly.
At that time I contacted Mukul Bhai (who is involved with BCCB, Parobashiblog and many other voluntary initiatives), whom my better half; my brother-in-law and sister-in-law were fairly connected with. I had meeting with him on September last year and together we made a plan how to go ahead. I decided to change my field to mental health and we drafted a plan accordingly. He suggested me to take a relevant Certificate Course at GBC and to start working at a group home as the first step to gain Canadian work experience upon my return from Bangladesh. He also handed over some study materials to me to finish during my 2-months-stay in Bangladesh. Beside these assignments, the most important statement he made at that meeting was “If anyone makes a proper plan and gives his/her 100% effort, he/she is going to be successful with a possibility of 99%. The rest 1% is luck.” I can still recall one of the pictures hung on one of his walls where a frog is almost swallowed by a Sawn, yet the frog is squeezing the Swan’s throat with its two legs so that the predator can’t breathe and eat him, and the caption says, “NEVER GIVE UP”.
I came back with huge inspiration and a firm vow to go ahead. After coming back from Bangladesh, I started working on our plan; got myself admitted into GBC certificate course and started working in a group home and kept applying from January, 2017. Things started to come to my favor. I was offered with the part-time job at Aramark at the end of March, 2017 although it was not my desired job. But it was much-needed! I got my first interview call for a job of my field from BIES. Although I could not make it, I did not lose hope. Finally, I got an interview call from LOFT and I made it. Eventually I was hired for a full-time permanent position and I started working for them from May 29, 2017. Surprisingly, this is the very LOFT where I applied for several relief and part-time positions and did not get any interview call. Probably that’s the 1%- YOU NEVER KNOW! Or my resume.
For sure, we all need support from others, particularly when we are in a transitional period. Amidst of those black nights, I was fortunate to have tremendous support from my family, relatives and some of my well-wishers. I am highly grateful to all those who stood by me when I really needed them including Mukul Bhai, Mostafa Bhai, Primrose Apu, my family members, relatives and well-wishers.
Let me confess… I was not able to give my 100% effort as instructed by Mukul Bhai. Yet I was fortunate to have good results. Now I wonder what else I could have if I had given that 100%. Well, I don’t know…Only thing I know is that I tried my level best with a specific plan that worked for me.
With thanks,
Mahbub A.
