One of the warmest things I’ve witnessed online this past week is the conversation going on below Othering correspondent OluTimehin Adegbeye’s beautiful newsletter in which she asked members: Who are you?
The idea is to be able to describe yourself without mentioning your job, nationality or education – the same way we were asked to do it when we applied for our jobs at The Correspondent.
I wrote my own application form completely underslept, in a stranger’s home, about to embark on a complex one-month reporting trip with a three-month-old. All I remembered from what I wrote was that I did so late at night, with a feeling of urgency.
After reading OluTimehin, I looked through my folders to find that application form again. And here it is: a testimony of what a new mum without maternity leave and a stable income can put down on paper with little sleep.
“Since becoming a mother three months ago, I’ve turned into a superwoman. This is no exaggeration: juggling a newborn with life in the countryside and my creative and professional quests – with no maternity leave – has made me more creative, efficient and organised. It’s helped me focus and prioritize, dedicating myself to my true passions. Lorenzo’s curious eyes are helping me explore new perspectives. …