Fear is a powerful emotion. Sometimes I don't know that I am feeling fearful. I have been moving along with the Education Center for Refugees and Immigrants. In fact, I am now at the point to apply for grants. I didn't think I would be at this point so fast. Until a couple weeks ago, my ideas were a bit abstract. Now, they are on paper. I have created a hand-out for community members and organizations. It explains who we are and what we do. I also created a information sheet that compares the Education Center and other ESL services in the Capital Region. I have my mission statement and objectives. Now it is time to apply for my first grant. Honestly, it is scary. I am scared of not succeeding and I am scared of succeeding. I am putting a lot of work into these ideas and what if I fail? What if I get rejected? Grants are very competitive and I was told to expect a lot of rejection! On the other hand, if I get the grant, I am in business and it is time to start the classes.
I think once I apply for this first grant, I can get over this hump. It's just like doing anything for the first time. It can be scary because of the unknown, but then it becomes easier because you know what to expect. I need to be persistent and keep applying for grants. It is difficult to get the first grant because I don't have a track record. Getting my first grant is an accomplishment. Hopefully, after the first it will get a bit easier. Snowball effect?
So, here I am at Starbucks, starting my first grant. Wish me luck!
