By Merritt Kalagian, Researcher, Shaw Festival Theatre
First, it was a great honor for me to be recognized and judged by peers, as being worthy of this financial grant, in order to take advantage of an educational and networking opportunity by attending the 2013 APRA International Conference in Baltimore. For without this financial grant, I would have been unable to attend and would have missed a great professional opportunity.
Attending the conference meant that I had the opportunity to access a universe of knowledge via a medium and forum that was intimate, personal, interactive and peer – to – peer. It was empowering. The exposure to new ideas, strategies, methodologies and best practices not only left me self – reflecting on my own strategies, methodologies and best practices but also left me feeling empowered that I have the skills and ability to do it.
As well, I was invigorated by the endless possibilities of positive outcomes that come from exposure to these new ideas and information, and how I could transfer and/or translate them to the needs of my organization. It helped, still feeling relatively new to the profession, to alleviate various degrees of trepidation and anxiety of not only how to do it but can I do it. By my fellow peers sharing their professional/personal experiences, it resonated with me the idea that anything is possible. I just have to do it.
Take Advantage of Opportunities
When I first approached my Director about attending the conference, I was told that it was financially impossible for the organization to send me. I understood and accepted the decision with the hope that something might change in the future. Then I received the email about the Radhika Jaggernauth Memorial Scholarship and saw the opportunity. Yet, after reviewing the application criteria I felt that I did not have the “right stuff” and it would be a fruitless process for me to pursue. However, with the encouragement and support of my Director, I completed the application.
What I learned was that you will be given an opportunity and, in turn, you have to give yourself an opportunity and, hopefully, it will work out for you. I am extremely thankful and grateful for the opportunity that not only APRA Canada gave me, but one that I also gave myself to further enhance my professional skills and knowledge. The conference was a great experience and one that I will soon not forget. I am excited and looking forward to the 2014 APRA Canada conference.
Peer to Peer Sharing – A Great Forum for Learning
Hearing and watching my fellow peers on those podiums, discussing, explaining and sharing their knowledge and best practices was motivational to me. For me, there is no greater learning forum than peer to peer interactions. By listening and talking to my peers, I learned new best practices, strategies and methodologies. I also learned that we all have had similar and some quite different experiences and how they have been handled positively or negatively.
Such interactions provided a personal and intimate dynamic that cannot be found in other types of interactions. Therefore, the conference became a great forum for sharing information and professional knowledge that will have a lasting impact on me professionally and personally. One day, I hope I will have the opportunity to stand on a podium at the conference and share my knowledge with my fellow peers.