SHAKTI

The Inaugural speech for Shakti- Women's Symposium The idea of an event like this was on my mind for a couple of years. It sprouted due to a realization that we do not give ourselves enough credit for our achievements, whether on the home front or at work. We undermine ourselves, say that ‘it’s nothing’ or ‘I am just doing my job’ and pretty soon everyone around us says the same. The realization came to me very strongly one day when at my old job my manager was curious about my life journey. So I told her about how we came to the US because of my husband’s job, started from nothing, had kids etc. I had stayed home to take care of the kids and then worked part-time in the mental health field until they got older. Later went back to school in my 40s, got my masters in counseling, finished internship and passed the grueling licencing exam.  Finally got my license as a Marriage and Family therapist. She was so impressed and said that, wow this is so inspiring