Navigating Life as a BIF Fellow

When I was chosen as a Banyan Impact Fellow in 2022 to serve with India Health Action Trust in Shahdol, one of the most concerning and exciting parts was moving to a new place and building my life from scratch. This anxiety was heightened because Shahdol was far away from cities, family and friends, unlike all other places I had lived in before. However, life can surprise you when you least expect it. The struggle to find a community and figure out life alone was a journey that helped me realize a better version of myself

This article is a list of things that helped me, an early 20s fresh out-of-college almost adult, embrace Shahdol and make my Fellowship journey easier. It does not intend to serve as a blueprint for future fellows. More than that, it is a warm assurance of a hug to put that anxious voice in your head to rest.

1. Finding friends in your everyday community

In my early months at the fellowship, I struggled to find people to connect to. Having always been given communities by default in school and college, adulting and doing this task on my own proved difficult. After spending quite a few weeks moping around and comparing my life to its previous phases, I realized that to make a community here, I can simply find friends in the people who made my life better every day. That’s how Razil Bhaiya, my favourite vegetable seller, Praveen Bhaiya, our organization’s driver and my neighbours became my community here. These friendships were as lovely as they were unexpected.

2. Invest in your living space

Use the first month of your fellowship to find a living place that makes you feel safe and comfortable. As you will be spending many hours of your fellowship life in this place, investing in a good living space can do wonders for your mood and productivity. Take the time out to fill this place with knick-knacks that make you feel at home.

3. Good food = Strong Relationships = Better life

If you have the provisions, spend time and set up a kitchen in your living space. Picking up the local cuisine and finding ways to infuse it with your regional cuisine is the best way to find a home at your Host Organization. Not only does this refine your cooking skills, but sharing and learning about food is the best way to build relationships with people. Don’t miss out on going to the local market to explore the variety of fruits and vegetables local to your host location.

4. Always carry a piece of home

Be it your family, friends or partner, keep in touch. These relationships give you the space to share your life and hold you during the hard times. Invest in these as there is nothing akin to the firm belief that your loved ones have in you. A little box of manjadi, my mother’s Kurtas and my sister’s hand-me-downs became the artefacts that single-handedly helped me combat homesickness.

Moving to Shahdol also encouraged me to pick up the Ukelele under a great teacher. Be it old or new, do continue to find space and time for the hobbies that make you happy. Incorporating them into your routines will go a long way in making you feel at home. These people and hobbies will help you deal with the many challenges that are thrown your way.

5. Take travelling breaks

The Fellowship is hectic. You will always have multiple deadlines, and tasks to complete, amidst all of that remember that the Fellowship journey is more than just project deliverables. Do take the time out to explore your host location and visit your co-Fellow’s locations too. This will help you understand the geography and the community you are working with in much more depth. Taking these breaks is mandatory to make the best out of the Fellowship journey.

6. Hold the AIF family close

The Fellowship journey is about creating memories as you go along, and your cohort has a precious part to play in this. Through my Fellowship journey, co-Fellows have time and again become lifesavers by giving me the right advice, helping me have my own back, and sometimes simply by being present. Your co-fellows are the ones who are most suited to understand the challenges of your journey. Scheduling regular catch-up sessions or simply keeping in touch over text messages will aid in maintaining sanity.

In addition to your cohort, the BIF team is a source of strength and wisdom. The monthly check-ins with my BIF mentor have helped me reflect on my journey while understanding my areas of strength and improvement. Their advice goes a long way to help you navigate professional dilemmas.  Sharing my challenges and wins with the team made the Fellowship journey more fulfilling.

7. Find your safe spaces

The Fellowship journey is a personal and professional transformation. Therefore, it can be challenging and there will be times when you struggle, remember to always find your safe spaces to come back to. It could be a friend, a place or a hobby, anything that can hold you and help you. Do remember to practice self-compassion and know when to ask for help. The Fellowship gives you all the necessary resources  to help you in this journey, do use them wisely.

The BIF Fellowship is a truly incredible journey. Like all things in life, it will have moments of joy and doubt. Knowing how to take care of yourself through it all and making the best use of the resources available to you can enrich this transformative experience.