WQ#35: Be Bold?

Published on by Yinglan

This is one of the most memorable quotes I’ve ever posted on this blog. I don’t remember where I got it from. All I know is that I uploaded this quote onto this blog in 2016.

I wish I can say I’m a bold person but I can’t.

I remember when I was an engineering student looking for an internship, I would go to career fairs, one after another. I would be dressed in my best dress shirt, slacks, and dress shoes. In my hand would be about a dozen copies of my resumé, ready to be handed out. Then, right before I walk in, I would tell myself, “be active, be bold, be aggressive.”

More times than I could count, I would leave these events feeling like I didn’t do enough to network with the representative, like I failed to behave the way I told myself I should behave, like I wasn’t proactive enough in looking for a job like my life was depended on it. I should’ve strutted forward and performed the actions and spoken the words I’ve rehearsed so many times in front of the bathroom mirror but I couldn’t do it. There was just something in me that didn’t like the aggressive behavior and the boldness.

I never ended up getting calls from the people I handed my resumé to but to be honest, I’ve been to enough of these events to know I would be happy to get one call. Day after day, mom would tell me to be bold and give these people a call but my gut told me these people are busy enough and I mustn’t bother them.

I think I count on luck way too much and don’t put enough trust in my abilities and instincts, therefore, often put boldness and aggression on the back burner.

21 thoughts on “WQ#35: Be Bold?”

  3. I love the quote, Yinglan. So, did you get an engineering job eventually? I remember days like that, and I don’t know when I got to be bold, but I think I am now. It’s a fine line between being bold/aggressive and being humble. You don’t want a person who can talk about nothing but themselves 24/7.

    On the other hand, you have to be pleased with what you have accomplished. Being an engineering student is quite an accomplishment, especially for a woman – at least it used to be. My dad was an engineer, and I was always proud of that. I doubt if I ever told him, though. Shame on me. Anyway, I hope you are proud of yourself. Thanks for sharing this quote and your lovely thoughts about it.

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    1. No, unfortunately, the engineering world (or the world) is bias in general in a way that no matter how capable a person is at a job, physical appearance matters more. No one wants to hire someone like me to be an engineer. I ended up getting an accounting degree after the engineering degree and was lucky to end up at my current job.
      I am proud to had learned engineering. There wasn’t many women in my classes those days – less than 10 in a class of 40 usually – and the school did push for more female engineers but I’m sure this sort of thing doesn’t happen overnight.

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      1. It is super impressive that you accomplished that!!! As a woman and a friend I’m proud of you for accomplishing both. And on top of that you write and have a very successful blog and have friends all over the world. As they say in Australia, “Good on you!”

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  4. Pingback: WQ #35: Primarily Bold – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write

  5. I think what you went through was due to your personality. Some people can sell themselves while others wait to be noticed. One can’t change one’s basic personality! You’ve done extremely well my friend by studying so hard, having two enviable degrees and have a great job. You should be proud of yourself! We are.

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  7. Pingback: WQ #36: Living by the Positive Glow of Orange – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write

  9. Love the quote – soooo good.
    And I hear you – I was very outspoken when I was younger, but when I was in high school and through college, I always felt tongue-tied and found it difficult to speak my mind, or even answer questions in class.
    I am happy to say that with age, I seem to have rediscovered my voice and feel much less inhibited speaking my mind these days.

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    1. I’m glad to hear you rediscovered your voice. I’ve always been quiet, even as a child but in the recent years, I have become more outspoken in my writing than in real life.

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