RCGP Award

Last weekend, I received an award from the Royal College of General Practitioners for my work in women’s health and rehabilitation. The award was presented by Prof Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, former Chair of RCGP, now Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

Because it was a nighttime event, I decided to go without my children. And because we had no childcare, Isaac stayed home with them. I got there a few minutes early and I got to network with some lovely people. One particularly remarkable encounter was with a pleasant gentleman whom I walked up to solely because he appeared to be alone and I had seen him walking around the room a few times without talking to anyone. He seemed not to understand the concept of networking. I think he thought I was trying to hit on him at first. His demeanour was quite stand-offish and he was quick to tell me he was there to support his wife. I was about to wrap up the conversation when he relaxed a bit and we had an interesting chat. He said to me: “You are brave.” Why? Because I dared to walk up to a stranger to strike up a conversation, a man no less! What if I was snubbed?! To which I replied I would simply move on to the next person.

Brave. What he didn’t know was that on my way to the event, I battled with a strong dose of imposter syndrome. Who am I, a small girl from the slums of Ajegunle, to attend this fancy event and receive an award with all these posh people? I acknowledged all the feelings, and I reminded myself that I am good enough. I deserve to be here. I deserve to occupy space. I am worthy of good things. And if brave means doing all the things despite sometimes feeling inadequate, then yes, call me brave.