What Does Being The Youngest In The Room Really Mean?

I was delivering a training last week till a lady twice my age came up to me asking: "How at such a young age have I gained all such experiences and titles in less than a decade in the workforce"?

I've been trying to find an answer to respond to this but never did. Even to myself...

As Fancy as LinkedIn makes me (and others look), with all the follower numbers, all the achievements being showed up, it hides the blood, sweat and tears..

I actually started no less than 20 initiatives, jobs, ideas, blogs that never saw the light beyond the starting line. But somehow the most "flashy" titles I've gained, flashed out all the failures. Or sometimes actually the other way around.

People see here titles of a "Young" or "The Youngest Associate Minister, Youngest Professor, Younger International Organizations Consultant, Youngest, Youngest, Youngest.. and they clap for that.. or not..

But people never saw the insecurities behind that.. So let me tell you how It really was..

1. It is butterflies in one's stomach before entering a room of seniors, thinking you're not good enough or unworthy of being in that chair among them.. but fate brought you here anyhow.
2. It is confusion at it's finest. Getting big titles that are unprecedented to people of my own age range. Of what should I be doing now.. Or next? How can I surpass this current responsibility.
3. It's hatespeech from the entire globe. It is 3000+ shares of posts of people questioning your capabilities over social media posts or questioning who my father was, thinking he easily tucked me into such positions through power positions.
4. Most importantly, It's doubt. Doubt of one's self, choices and stance.

I've always asked myself, why me? Why did life throw me to scary big titles and expects me to know it all as I go, while I don't know anything.

What do I know about this and that?

I've never seen a minister or shook hands with one before taking an associate minister position. The students in my classes are 3-4 years younger than I am.. The people I consult are twice my age.. and the list goes on.

But I've been trying to find that "Why Me" answer for almost 4 years now, till I met a friend who told me:

"Why not take it with pride not doubt..

Why not be the youngest who achieved X,Y,Z breaking the norm so that you make the world believe that Youth CAN.

Why not be the youngest and take it as a motivation not as a self doubting situation?"

It took me almost three months trying to comprehend this answer and letting it sink in...

Only today it made sense.. That its not a self- doubting life.. It shouldn't ever be..

It's a RESPONSIBILITY.

Responsibility towards my generation of youth, in representing them.. Where I dream of a world that no ageism exists.. Not for the seniors.. Or for the youth really.

Responsibility towards my role, industry and position.

Responsibility towards my beloved ones, family and friends.. Where It's challenging to keep their head up high continuously and not let them down when the bar got up high.

& YES! Make the world believe that age is just a number.

If I dream I want to be anything at any age, then why not.

Being the youngest in the room is a responsibility towards myself, generation and profession.

Being on a heartquest of being truthful to what I want to do, achieve and become is what it is all about.

Being the youngest in the room really means being a responsible human being.

& if I owe everything I am today, I owe it to Allah, My Parents and My Close Circle of Friends, on top of them, my supportive mentor who simply made me see that my age shouldn't ever be a self doubting factor but rather an empowering one to myself and others... and to take full responsibility in that.

I take this moment, to thank Allah for such a blessing and responsibility.

To thank my parents, Hedy and Seif, for watering their seed for the past quarter of a decade, no matter how rebellious and ambitious I was.

My Siblings, Hania and Ahmed, for always having my back.

& My mentor, Hussein Heiba -- for being the light of shifting my vision...

If anything Ive ever learnt.. It is to choose your people wisely.

People who support and push forward and be your rock when all you are equals to self doubt and questioning.

Also, self doubt got me burning 100x the engine from a place of restlessness..

& only when it came from a place of rest, I enjoyed the ride.. I really did..

The truth of being the youngest in the room (was) always self doubt.

Today, it (is) all about a responsibility of empowerment (to one's self & others).

Bottom Line:

Believe in YOU.

YOU Can.

YOU will.

Find people who push you when your engine breaks or fuel runs out.

Just make sure the engine keeps going.