On the second day of a conference, I awoke to a 7 a.m. phone call from my dad. “Azmi, your grandfather had a brain hemorrhage and was admitted to the hospital.” I told my dad I’d fly out to meet him that day, but he encouraged me to stay to present my research. By the time I arrived the following night—poster and conference clothes in hand—my grandfather had passed away. The rush of grief was overwhelming. Over the next few days, I focused on my family and helped plan the funeral.
After getting involved with my postdoctoral association’s advocacy committee, I quickly saw that many incoming postdocs were facing similar troubles. Wanting to do what I could to help, I took on the role of disseminating information about work-life balance and mental health, announcing seminars, meditation sessions, and mental well-being programs.
After taking the course, I felt more confident in my ability to defuse difficult situations and direct people toward professional help should I ever come across an emergency. The training helped me become a better listener. For instance, I’ve learned to be mindful of my body language—to make eye contact, maintain a soft tone, and focus on being present and actively listening.