My Journey, From Silence to Support

I Wanted to Prove Myself, But Instead, I Struggled Silently

When I first came to Dubai, I had only one thing in mind. I wanted to prove myself. I wanted to show that I could handle it, that I was capable, that I belonged in this industry.

But instead of growing fast, I found myself stuck, not because of the work, but because I kept everything inside me. Every time I got stuck or faced something new, I thought, Let me figure it out on my own. I didn’t want to ask anyone. I didn’t want people to think I knew nothing.

I was scared. Scared of being judged. Afraid that people will look at me and think, Why is he asking this. Is he not capable?

So I kept quiet. I smiled in meetings, nodded like I understood everything, and went back to my seat with hundreds of doubts in my head. That pressure, that fear, that silence, it was heavy.

Then one day, something changed.

A senior colleague once told me, "The smartest person in the room is not the one who knows everything. It's the one who dares to ask the right question."

That line hit me. I still remember that moment. It felt like someone opened a window in a room I had been locked inside for too long.

After that, I began to ask slowly. I still felt nervous, but I pushed myself. And to my surprise, people were kind. Some explained things properly. Some appreciated that I was trying. Some even said, "Ask me any time you need help."

That’s when I realised. Asking for help is not a weakness. It is a strength. It means you take pride in your work. It means you are honest about where you are and where you want to go.

This is why I created the MEP Learnings Community. I wanted a space where nobody feels scared to ask, where people don’t hide their doubts, where we help each other without ego.

I know how it feels to struggle alone. I see the silence that eats you from inside. If you are feeling that way today, I want to tell you that you're not alone. Just ask. Reach out. There are more kind people than you think.

We all grow together. As Robert Ingersoll said, we rise by lifting others.

And I genuinely believe that.