Dare to Try

by Astrid Bracke

When I agreed to set up a political youth branch I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Neither did I when I joined the local division of a political party. And I certainly didn't have a clue when I became a member of provincial board. Looking back, my being clueless was probably for the best.

Before I signed up for the youth branch I had never been politically active. Little did I know that at the time that the youth branch didn't even exist as yet, and that I was going to be one of the two people to establish it. I had no previous experience, and hadn't even been a member of a club or society before. If I had known in advance that I wasn't about to join a smooth-running organization, but be responsible for setting it up, I never would've replied, simply because I lacked experience.

Yet I learned that lack of experience can be made up for by enthusiasm and dedication. This helped me in the beginning, when everything turned out to be much more difficult than I had expected. Soon I learned that two other things are equally important, namely improvising and quick thinking. This was proven on the evening of our first debate. I had always considered myself to be rather shy until I realized that the speaker hadn't shown up and that I had to give a speech - -unprepared. By that time it was too late to worry about my shyness or be insecure about my message. Improvising and quick thinking turned my little speech into a success, and for the time being I forgot all about my shyness.

In the months that followed, I did many things I never thought I would do. I was interviewed by the regional television station, wrote pamphlets and organized meetings. In the spring that followed the launch of the group, we presented ourselves at a fair. Although we were understaffed and it rained almost continuously, this didn't matter at the end of the day. What was important to me was that I had grown--I had, once again, stepped over my shyness and approached complete strangers; I had managed to explain our goals and ideals to them and even met a few people whose life stories really enriched me.

The next summer I joined the provincial board of the political party--as if I didn't have enough politics on my mind already. During the first few meetings I felt slightly out of place among people who had years of experience. I was scared of saying something silly or stupid, yet I soon realized that I could make a valuable contribution as well--despite my inexperience. Experience can make people valuable, but it can also be a handicap. Things that have been tried before and didn't work out are never picked up again by them. Old rows and quarrels keep them from reaching out to and working with others. Traditions often keep them from innovating. At times I felt tactless, suggesting things that had failed before, ignoring quarrels and sensitive points that had been held on to for too long and breaking with tradition without even knowing it. Yet I believe that this attitude has brought a lot of good things, as it stimulates initiatives and encourages others to innovate as well.

In the eight months that I've been on the board I've gained my place and my own set of responsibilities. I've managed to pick up things that didn't work in the past and turn them into successes. One of my responsibilities is public relations, although I have no previous experience in that field. Instead of focusing on my inexperience, I see it as a challenge that keeps me fresh and motivated.

Although I don't have any political aspirations, I am proud of everything I've accomplished in the past year-and-a-half. I'm most proud not of the meetings I organized, the pamphlets I wrote or the things I initiated, but of my own growth. Being new forced me to be brave, and bold at times, to forget my shyness and speak up. My experiences also offered me a peek into worlds I never would have seen: I spent an afternoon with school teachers discussing the importance of reading, and another afternoon with farmers and rangers. All these experiences have enriched me--and I'm grateful for them. One-and-a-half years ago I could never have predicted this. Yet now, not knowing exactly how something is done no longer stops me--I just do it.

The Author

Astrid Bracke, a self-starter, writes short stories, articles on a wide range of topics, and book reviews. Her interests include reading, writing, volunteer work, web design and travelling. She currently resides in the Netherlands and can be found online at astridbracke.com, her personal website that includes her portfolio.