Six years ago, I embarked on a journey to the United States, five years ago, I made a conscious decision to stop worrying about my English accent. In this time, I’ve come to realize the profound privilege of working in an industry, within a specific region, and alongside a team where I’ve never felt discriminated against. However, I’m not naive, neither oblivious to the challenges that still lie ahead as I continue to advance in my career. The world is not always as open-minded as I’ve been fortunate to experience. We humans often possess unconscious biases that can be challenging to eliminate. Yet, there’s an intriguing beauty in the diversity of accents that we should wholeheartedly embrace.

I’m currently aboard an airplane with my heart soaring. It’s been a challenging Sunday as I embark on a 15+ hour work-related journey that will keep me away for a week. My child is back at home, perhaps getting ready for school right now. I’m just one of the countless individuals who find themselves in a similar situation, obliged to leave personal matters behind as they head to work.