2021-September-23

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Yes, I’m Good Enough And So Are You

BY GABBY CHAN · CX PRODUCT MANAGEMENT SECURITY· UNITED STATES

WITH KRYSTAL CHENG

Gabby and her family at a baseball game.

“Am I good enough?”

That was the question I always asked myself as a child growing up in Hong Kong.

My parents always wanted the best for me — to excel in school, attend a top university, and find a great job.

And while many parents understandably want this for their children, there were many times when I felt the pressure on me was too great to succeed. So much so that at night I often laid awake wondering, “Am I good enough?

Now that I’m an adult with a family of my own, I can easily answer this question.

Yes, of course I am good enough.

However, I can still remember exactly how I felt back when I was a child, so I wanted to find a way to give children the confidence to find the same answer too.

That’s why I used my Cisco Time2Give hours to volunteer at my local church for a week.

Giving back to children in the Bay Area

In July 2021, I was one of 22 volunteers who had the opportunity to mentor 44 kids ages five to eleven in the San Francisco Bay Area.

For a whole week, I shared bible stories with the children and spent time listening to them as they told me about their different struggles. Many of them had problems that you’d expect — they were sick of online learning and missed going to school and seeing their friends.

But others had more complex challenges, like a sudden move to a new city, pressure to succeed in school from their parents, and, like me, wondering if they would ever be good enough.

To help, I shared examples of how they can find the strength and courage to overcome their challenges. Most importantly, I also made sure to find time to talk with each and every one of them and show them that they were not alone.

Gabby (right) acting out a story with her husband.

I know that my five days of volunteering didn’t magically solve their problems.

The kids who were sick of online learning may still be sick of it. And kids who were dealing with a new move may still be adjusting to it.

However, it was my hope that my five days of volunteering taught them that it’s OK to tell people that you’re struggling, it’s OK to ask for help, and it’s OK not to be OK.

Kids’ problems aren’t just for kids

Throughout my five years at Cisco, I’ve been proud to work for a company that always prioritizes our mental health and provides us with the support we need. This culture has inspired me to extend this priority to children whose struggles often get overlooked.

Sure, as adults, we face plenty of challenges like finding new jobs, paying bills, and raising kids. We always try our best. But sometimes, during our own challenges, we forget our kids are also experiencing them with us.

This is why the biggest takeaway from my experience is that kids’ problems aren’t just “kids’ problems,” and it’s up to us to provide them with a safe space to speak up and seek help.