We, at every stage of life, have goals and aspirations. Our journey enriches us, and this enrichment experiences!! When I was breaking into my specialty and had joined as a junior resident, I was perplexed and often irritated by the odd jobs given to me. I felt I needed to be groomed to be a professional and yet I was paying telephone bills and doing odd jobs. Now, I realize that at that particular time, I was capable of doing those odd jobs only. ‘Befitting’ is a term that describes our role according to our ‘experience’. I was 13 and I wanted to drive a car if possible own a car. I never thought I should know how to change a car tire or check the engine oil, but I wanted like most teens to drive a car and create an impression. Clearly, owning and driving was not befitting at 13.
A driving force is required to turn aspirations into reality and this doesn’t happen overnight. With time, careful trials, step by step one learns the tricks and treasures of each profession. Some of us justify our qualifications and caliber and some are just about there. One critical aspect which adds to our status in our departments is ‘experience’. Here, the experience needs to be differentiated from designation. Designation changes depending upon circumstances and opportunities, available to a person but the experience is a constant addendum.
With experience, a person grows and realizes that criticism of working is not always right as both personal circumstances and available options in institutes vary for individuals. A younger individual is often healthier while an experienced older person realizes the impact of health on work. An experienced person can maximize the potential of colleagues, subordinates, and often seniors by providing or suggesting ‘befitting roles’ and encouraging ‘subtle growth’. Again subtle, because ‘subtle growth’ ripens and provides the best momentum.
The stage at which a senior considers all department members as family members (we have all kinds of family members) and enjoys their success is ideal. Such seniors do exist and the faculty is then blessed. Experience is actually the road which leads to acceptance and harmony and the realization that zenith is not the pedestal one seeks. Experience teaches the old to be younger, even childish when realization seeps in that the real happiness of life is in childhood and adult life where we are in a hurry. The hurry of getting older by being more experienced!!!
(Dr Gaurav Agnihotri)