Good Side To Things

Last Wednesday, I was working at my desk by the window when a group of teenage boys walked by and saw me by the window. "Do you know how to fix the iPhone?", one shouted at me. Hearing that remark, I assumed that he was taunting me for being an Asian. (I might be wrong!) While I was a little annoyed, I decided to pretend that I couldn't hear him through my headphones and continued working on my laptop. Then, they became rowdier - knocking on my window, shouting at me and banging on my door. I continued to ignore them despite them being right in front of me. Eventually, they gave up, toppled my wheelie bin and walked away.

Was I irritated? You bet! Was it all that bad? Not quite! Coincidentally, I had an assignment for one of my modules - Strategic Games due the following day and I turned this incident into the content of the essay! I had to write about an interactive situation in the media or my everyday life which resembles a strategic game. I was struggling to think of one until this incident and it felt like a great example of brinksmanship! I think I have to thank the boys now! ?

Everything happens for a reason

I wanted to write this post because I feel that when something seemingly bad happens, it is seldom as bad as it seems and if we look hard enough, there's likely a good side to it. Everything happens for a reason. Also, I wanted to share that it doesn't feel good to be on the receiving end of discrimination. I don't fault the boys entirely because I believe I'm not perfect in this way generally too. While I do not intentionally discriminate others, I believe I make unintentional (and possibly not so nice) associations of people due to my unconscious bias (Thanks, Natalie and Courtney, for the unconscious bias training!). And this incident and reflection are a great reminder for myself to tackle my unconscious bias. Again, another good outcome ?