Un-DEE-niably Confident! Unveiling the Hidden Spark

• Dee expresses how she has yearned for her future, a place where she could belong, and how she found it in Girl Power Talk.
• She recalls how she was not confident in the past, but slowly learned how to be more open and outgoing.
• Dee describes how she has noticed how confidence affects one’s self and other people.
• She states how being appreciative opens up people to be more trusting towards you, and expresses her passion for communication.

What Is the Opposite of Nostalgia?

I believe that everyone has an innate intuition where, upon coming to a place, they immediately feel a deep sense of belonging, a place that aligns perfectly with their being.

Sehnsucht. The Germans call it. While nostalgia is the longing for what has already passed, sehnsucht is its antipode. It is the yearning for the future, a special feeling of seeking joy that is yet to be discovered. It is something which I eventually and ultimately found when I joined Girl Power Talk, which boosted my confidence.

I am Dee Apriliani and this is my story.

Building Up Heat

I was born and raised in Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia whose people are known for their friendly and inquisitive nature. One might naturally assume me to be out rightly friendly and talkative as well, but I did not originally perceive myself as such. I was timid and oftentimes too reserved, especially around unfamiliar faces. 

However, I am not an introvert; I love socializing and engaging in conversations with people. I find great fascination in hearing their stories and experiences. It’s just that I am not confident enough to reach out because I have a fear of judgment. I feel I might be too curious or appear overbearing. This assumption stuck with me throughout my upbringing, until I went to college, where being reserved and afraid were not viable options anymore.

I am an ambitious woman, but not adequately ambitious to admit and say it out loud. I could sense the heat building within me. The heat building within me could be sensed. Like in the hand drill method of fire-making, enough heat had already been produced by me to generate smoke, but there was still no flame yet. More friction was needed to find that spark and to sustain it for it to be turned into a fire. A fire symbolizing my strength, radiance, and passion. But the question remained: where is that friction to be found by me?

Girl Power Talk: My Personal Spark

I majored in International Business with a focus on marketing during college. Still, I do know basic survival knowledge; like how to make fire using dry wood, specifically the hand drill method. I could also recollect high school physics lessons; that heat can be generated from friction or rubbing things together.

In order to make fire, one must drill the wood rapidly and with sufficient pressure. The drilling needs to be consistent if you want to make fire or  you might lose the heat generated in the process. Likewise, I felt the heat building up in me, I just needed more healthy pressure and friction. My friction turned out to be stepping out of my comfort zone.

Right after college, the uncertain journey of seeking job opportunities by myself was embarked upon. Fear of rejection and joblessness lingered. Falling behind my peers who had already kick-started their careers was something I was scared of. Not much experience was in my possession, but I knew I had something distinctive to offer. Although what that was hadn’t been fully grasped yet, I knew deep within me that it would eventually grow.

After months of trying, I found myself captivated by this company that aimed to empower young women to be persistent, empathetic, and confident. These were values that were precisely needed by me at that point in my life. The universe led me to learning more about the company and then …sehnsucht. Swiftly, albeit pressured by the fact that I might be rejected once again, my application to the company was sent out. Thankfully, I was fortunately accepted, and this company, Girl Power Talk, surpassed my expectations and was true to its vision.

A Catalytic Transition

The company is composed of team members from all over the world. This ensures that there will always be someone that I could talk to at any given time of the day. But then again, given that I was initially reserved, it was not an easy transition for me.

Girl power talk recognizes the challenge of fostering personal connections among remote international team members. The organization has managed to find a way where everyone can meet virtually and welcome each other. When I was just a new team member in this lovely organization, my colleagues greeted me with warm messages of “congratulations” and “hello” in different languages. In addition to my vocabulary of basic greetings, my perspective was also broadened. I found joy in hearing the team members’ cultures, traditions, and stories.

Little did I know, I would be asking questions without the fear of judgment. I discovered that my curiosity was a good attitude and a valuable asset in communication. I learned that curiosity is a sign of interest. It’s an indication that one is intently listening, which is crucial in forming a good rapport. Interacting with people who shared the same levels of enthusiasm in knowing me and hearing my stories as I did in knowing them, a sense of confidence imbued within me.

When people are made to feel appreciated, that feeling is reciprocated. Hence, when people are shown appreciation by us, they feel accommodated, and trust is instilled in them. Reaching out to people and communicating with them is then made plain sailing. This realization was made by me when I got involved in several projects. It was observed by our clients and other team members that I was engaging to talk to, something I had never been told before.

I found my spark. The next goal is to sustain, nurture and feed it, ensuring it blossoms into a bright flame.

Invoking My Passion and Confidence 

Not only did I uncover my self confidence and my interpersonal skills, I also developed confidence with my technical skills. Girl Power Talk catered to me the opportunity to learn and be involved in projects without prior experience in the specific field.

At Girl Power Talk, I gained pragmatic marketing strategies that I would have not acquired through academic studies. I appreciate how the organization emphasizes the importance of providing hands-on experience. They involve us in projects, hear our opinions and suggestions, and include  us in project planning and implementation. This approach allows us to immediately apply our knowledge and also promptly identify our limits. It  is a good thing because right then, it makes us aware about what to improve on.

Girl Power Talk is a company of proactive team members. Everyone values the creative potential of young members like myself regardless of age, gender, work experience, or ethnic background. My voice is heard. This culture of constructive and collaborative decision-making has encouraged me to step up and proactively put myself out there. It leads me to participate more in projects close to my heart and interests.

Eventually, I even got to lead several projects in marketing and social media in the organization.  I am forever grateful that the company has constantly offered professional support and assurance. I thoroughly enjoy what I do here. The company’s dedication to raising awareness and advocating for gender equality through its social impact initiatives is commendable. As a woman, this is truly empowering. I wish that every young professional like me can experience working environments that are as diverse, inclusive, and inspiring as Girl Power Talk.

Bright as a Flame

My journey so far at Girl Power Talk has been incredibly rewarding. Aside from the fact that I can work from the comfort of my own abode allowing me to simultaneously take care of my younger siblings and pet, I am also given the chance of unraveling the confidence in me that I have always longed to tap into. Girl Power Talk has ignited the  spark to start up the fire to help me light up my journey. Both into my personal and professional growth. I was able to  foster confidence within myself with the support of the company. It allowed me to see a clearer vision of myself and the path I want to traverse in the future.

In short, this journey has been a fruitful one for me. It was an adventure and a path towards self-improvement, discovery, and blossoming into a version of me that I am proud of. I aspire to be the person I wish for people to be. I want to be the voice I always want to hear, and confidence is the key to achieving these aspirations.