The Crossroads between Origin and Destination. Billy's Journey: A Reflection on Self-worth and Belonging.

Billy was scared. He was on a matchmaking program where participants were matched vocally without any physical interaction.

He kept circling back to the fear: that being Pakistani could close doors for him and lead to his failure on the program. He feared being judged for where he’s from, not for who he is. As he spoke, there were tremors in his voice and pauses which felt like judgement; at this point self-inflicted.

While watching Billy, I could place myself in his shoes because I have been a Billy. I’ve been in situations where instead of thinking about my qualifications and experience, my mind looped around where I am from and how that might be seen as a drawback to an opportunity that was good for me.

Anyone who comes from what is now termed a “minority country” has been a Billy at some point in their life.
For instance, you go for an interview and instead of thinking about your qualities, experience and skillsets, you worry about the drawback that comes from your origin. You fear being judged for where you are from.

It is because of stories like Billy’s that I created the Crossroads Movement to offer a sense of belonging. I am not sure how we got to this point as a society, but this is my initiative and hopefully yours too, to try to change it:

To help us belong, to help us become.

If you are or have ever been a Billy, from experience I can say that: other people’s opinions, those labels society stamps on you do not define you.
You are your own person.

Your origin is context, not destiny.
Your skills, resilience, your story, your passion…are what you bring.
You belong.