At the tender age of 10, Nick Vujicic attempted to commit suicide by drowning himself in a tub. Nick's journey began in Melbourne, Australia, where he was born with Tetra-Amelia Syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of arms and legs. Growing up, he found himself questioning his purpose on earth as well as his self-worth. He believed that he would never live a normal life. However, a significant turning point came when he was 13. One day, while playing soccer, he accidentally hurt his little foot so badly that he was unable to walk for three weeks. During this period of recovery, Nick had a monumental realisation. He had a choice! He could choose to be angry and resentful about his life, or he could choose to be grateful for what he had. This epiphany marked the beginning of a profound shift in his perspective. Nick embraced an attitude of gratitude and decided to focus on the blessings in his life rather than his limitations. He began to see that his glass was always half-full never half empty. He started to appreciate aspects of his life he had previously taken for granted: the fact that he had a little foot to play soccer, his parents who supported him unconditionally, his friends who he enjoyed spending time with. His stopped seeing himself as a victim and started seeing himself as a person with many facets of life worth living. Determined to share his story and inspire others, Nick began speaking publicly about his experiences moving countless individuals to tears. Nick's story is not just about overcoming physical challenges, but also about overcoming the barriers of the mind. His achievements also showed people with disabilities that if he, born without hands or limbs, could achieve his dreams and become a speaker on global stages, then they too can pursue their dreams. So what if you're a little different from the rest? What if there are some broken pieces of you? Just because something is broken does not mean that it is not beautiful. Beautiful things can come from broken pieces when you decide to give those broken pieces a chance. This is your reminder to embrace all of the aspects of you that you want to run from. It's time for you to adopt the art of gratitude and see the beauty in diversity. As we learn to celebrate our unique differences, I want to remind you once again of our upcoming webinar on neurodiversity titled “Unlocking Potentials: Evidence-Based Approaches for Neurodiverse Kids,” happening on August 31st, 2024.

While working as a senior medical officer in a busy emergency department, I met an impressive young Indian man, Dr L. He had just completed his medical degree in the Middle East and was undertaking a clinical attachment (also known as observership) at the hospital. Within 4 weeks, Dr L. left a remarkable impression on me. He was assiduous, conscientious, and hardworking. He was always on time and would even work overtime. He never complained, even though he was not getting paid. He was attentive and engaged during my ward rounds and he was keen to serve. Unbeknownst to me, Dr L had been looking for a job for quite a while, and he was already getting frustrated. Yet he did not show this. I was not aware of his situation – I just assumed he was on an exchange program. On the final day of his rotation, he asked me to fill and sign his evaluation form. Of course, I scored him excellently. For the first time, I asked him about his plans. That was when he explained his situation. He had been in the country for a while, looking for a job. Rather than working in another field, he decided to do an observership to gain much-needed experience. During our conversation, I discovered that he had also applied for a job (as a psychiatry intern) in a hospital I had previously worked. I was amazed! Immediately, I asked him who the contact person was, and I made a call. Guess what? It was the Acting Head of Department. He told me the department had received over 100 applications for only 2 positions. More than 10 of the applicants were PhD holders! There and then, I knew there was a challenge. My reply was simple: “Although Dr L does not have a PhD or years of experience, he has a bloody good attitude. He is apt to learn and would be a great addition to your team.” That was it! A few weeks later, I received a phone call from Dr L. He got the job – despite being so unqualified! The following year, he brought his parents (who were visiting from India) to me. At his mum’s request, he drove for almost 4 hours (300 km) to meet me, just to say, "thank you". His parents prayed for me and that day I felt so much joy. Interestingly, my mum was also there! There are so many lessons to learn here… 1. Opportunities never come to those who sit still. They come to those who put in the work. Dr L’s breakthrough came while he was serving. Although he was in an unpaid position, he was diligent and impressive. 2. Good references are powerful. It is not enough to be competent; you should also build good connections. Always endeavour to make a good impression and learn to build good relationships. Whatever your hands find to do, do it well. Do not be keen to discard old friends and colleagues. Don’t burn bridges. You may never know when you will need help. A simple phone call may just make the difference. Ask Dr L!