New Kid on the Block

Five years old, first day at school? 18 years old, first stay at college? 25 years old, first day at work? Being "new" doesn't get easier with age, as I have recently learnt.

This week I embarked on a new chapter in my life, the start of what I hope will be a dream career. With new beginnings however,come those age old feelings of anxiety and longing for acceptance.

The past few days have dragged me back to my transition from year six in middle school into year seven in high school. Year six was the year to rule. The playground belonged to all eight year olds. Oozing with confidence, we strolled into year seven faced with the shocking reality that we were now meant to be invisible in the face of year twelves. It was a classic story of prince to pauper and rags to riches. From having it all, year sixes had incurred a sort of involuntary demotion. I like to imagine an ant climbing a wall only to be knocked right back down by a gush of water with an evil voice crying, "You ain't so big now are you?"

It all boils down to social acceptance. Whether it's a new job, new school or meeting a new group of people, it is natural to want to fit in. Acceptance provides social security, but requires us to adapt to the social rules of a specific establishment or environment. It underlines the fact that social acceptance is an extraordinary force in our lives - whether we like it or not. Scientists have even discovered a link between social acceptance and personal health. Most importantly however, social acceptance starts by embracing your own true worth. Doing this is the key to being "good" at being "new" - a skill for life.

A slight exaggeration maybe, but starting a new job has felt a bit like my transition from year six to year seven. Being new is just not cool. From knowing the jargon to feeling like you are being spoken to in a foreign language, from knowing where to find that oh so important file to rummaging through what feels like a mile high stack of virtual paper, from knowing where to grab a decent bite to eat to stopping at the first place that sells a cruddy sandwich to avoid looking lost...newness can be compared to leather and fine wine - it only gets better with time.