How COVID-19 Made People Value And Appreciate My Work
It’s crucial to have faith in what you do today, even when others don’t believe you
It’s interesting how unprecedented events like the COVID-19 pandemic can help your career become popular and get more appreciation from those around you. I never hoped that a pandemic that has affected billions of people worldwide could my work stand out today.
This program was popular where I came from; however, I soon noticed it was not as popular in some developed countries, Australia, the US, Canada, and the UK, Australia. Developed countries are less plagued by diseases and illnesses than some African and Asian countries.
Going out and interacting with people most days brought confusion rather than enlightenment. Each time I met someone new, either on public transport or in a networking gathering, we exchanged pleasantries and talked about what I did.
As you would expect, I always let them know I was currently studying a postgraduate course in Public Health at Uni.
They would further ask:
Them: So what are you training to be? What does that allow you to do? Will you be a doctor?
Me: Nope.
Them: Would you be a nurse?
Me: No, Not Quite.
They ended up asking what I would be doing afterwards?
I would let them know MPH graduates are necessarily not doctors or nurses. Although, depending on your stream, background and profession, you might have doctors and nurse colleagues as you may work with them in a health care setting.
Individuals who are trained doctors often get this degree to enhance their knowledge, like a Public Health Physician.
They would often look misguided, confused and unsatisfied after the chat went their way.
They didn’t quite understand what I was doing and why. They wondered if I would make anything out of it.
To me, this was okay.
“If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it”
— Elon Musk
Some even suggested that I change the program since it didn’t make sense to them.
It was different from the usual norm.
Four Years Later
In 2020, COVID hit. The virus was ravaging the world. The big countries were not spared.
Hundreds of millions got infected, and millions died and are still dying from the virus.
Everyone got hit — both developed nations and the developing world.
We all got our fair share.
From 2020 onwards, a new conversation struck between me and anyone I met.
Them: So what did you study at Uni?
Me: Master of Public Health.
Them: Wow! You must be an essential worker. You must be very busy. I am sure the world needs you now. You must be making lots of money. I am sure your job is safe.
The story changed within four years.
People imagined I was important to society.
I no longer had to explain what I did or my background to those I met; they saw it themselves.
It became evident it was significant.
The COVID-19 pandemic made me and my work significant.
In times of pandemic, people now know that public health decision needs to be made.
We needed to make sense of the trends across the world.
We needed surveillance and policies to improve health systems.
We needed an expert to advise about the magnitude and impact of the virus.
We needed planning and research to determine resources for the government to set priorities.
We need to make predictions for the coming weeks or months to plan and allocate resources.
We needed to make decisions that would reduce deaths tolls.
We needed policies that would keep the vulnerable populations safe.
For once, I became the most important person on earth and no longer had to answer questions about my background and what I did.
I no longer have to make an effort.
People got it. It became crystal clear.
Closing Thoughts
It’s important to have faith in what you do or believe in, even if others don’t believe you.
When it comes to our beliefs, we can often be met with doubt from others. Whether our ideas are professional or personal, there are bound to be people who don’t share in them.
It’s easy to feel discouraged when this happens, but it’s important not to lose faith in what you believe in. So what do you do when the people around you don’t believe you?
You keep being yourself and continue following your path.
That was what I did.
Of course, I am not happy COVID took millions of lives. But it brought me a new dimension of thought.
It’s easy to give up when others doubt you, but having faith in yourself and your beliefs can help you push through any obstacle. So don’t let anyone else discourage you from following your dreams — have faith that they’ll come true in the end. It will all add up and make sense to those who didn’t know and understand your “Why”.
It might not be through COVID, maybe something else.
What you do today matters.
Keep going.
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