Writing… more! (Silvia)

A few weeks ago, I came across an advertisement in Melbourne Uni’s careers website. I know I already have a job I love but sometimes there’s nothing to do at home so I start browsing random sites.

The volunteering organisation which ran the ad is dedicated to planting indigenous plants and the job description was simple: to help the editor research, write and publish newsletters. I imagined myself filling this role quite well because it’s writing and it’s nature, two of the things I love most.

The problem was, the position required knowledge of some programs. What were they again? Adobe something. And Indesign? I can’t remember. But anyway, I’d never worked with those programs before so I knew it was pointless and I would never get the job.

So I sent out an inquiry with my resume.

I am screwed in the head. It seemed my fanciful bouts of daydreams of being an editor’s assistant got the better of me.

BUT I GOT THE JOB.

How did I pull that off? Well, when the editor asked, I told her I never used those publishing programs before. Then, because I’ve learned it’s important to compromise, I said I could download the trial programs and learn to use them with online tutorials.

Bam. And the job was mine.

I’m ecstatic. Just by taking on this job, I have learned so much more about the world than I have in fourteen years of school. I mean, maths and science and all that is important, sure. But what about life?

People sacrifice their spare time to labour in the heat. They spend days and weeks shovelling potting mix, squatting for hours on end to plant seeds and small trees and erecting fencing to revegetate and rehabilitate the land.

Others realise mangroves are more than breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The trees are essential for cycling nutrients and they provide cover for fish eggs. Mangroves also protect land from erosion and help extend the coastline. It’s such a big project local primary school children are involved.

A biologist in Indonesia set out to increase orang-utan numbers because their habitat was shrinking due to human interference. The locals needed income for biofuels so the biologist enlisted their help to plant sugar canes, which can be used as biofuel. They planted food for the animals and humans and bit by bit, they replanted the entire rainforest!

I am in awe of what human beings can do. Nothing learned in the classroom or lecture theatre comes close to being so inspiring and I am glad I have the ability to share these stories to encourage others as well.