All aboard the Amal Express

“Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test and don’t ask why
It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right
I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it’s worth it was worth all the while.”

This journey starts at the epicenter of doubts and yearning for clarity. I look around and a friend points me towards a red train that has Amal Academy written on it. Crossing past the fog, I take the first step and board the train; knowing that the next 3-months journey on this was meant to be hard. The train has multiple hosts but two wonderful people lead me and my other fellow passengers. From the instructions shared with me, I hear the captain of the train is Mr. Benje Williams, who prefers to lead without making an actual appearance. I automatically appreciate him on every occasion for the journey he took us on and for the exploration.

With time, we stop at multiple points; learning what makes an interview powerful, empowering a single piece of paper, the resume, to represent us well, reflecting each day in the train windows to assess our growth and more. Each stop brings learning in a unique and interesting way. With time, all passengers join together to form a huge family. You can hear chuckles from afar even in the roar of heavy wind. To the outside world, on some occasions, the activities seem childish but the passengers know their ride. At several points we even stop for refreshments, singing songs and playing games to avoid feeling lethargic from all the traveling.

I initially don’t realize but my old energy seeps back into me on one of the days during this journey. Especially, after having talked to Ma’am Huda, who leads all the passengers. So, I wake up motivated and ready to make the best out of this trip. I become a part of a family that I never thought i’ll meet. I meet many charming and lovely travelers, all on the same journey to find their purpose in life. I sit, laugh & learn with them all, trying to understand the view of each and the places they aspire to reach. Together, we visit the virtual world of YouTube and Instagram to spread awareness, we create a mini-planner for time management and distribute among the people at the stations we stop and we invite several amazing guests that impart golden nuggets of information to us all in hopes that we may learn from their mistakes and find the courage to move on. It is amazing to guide and to be lead to places you haven’t explored before.

And after 3-months of a long journey, as I stand right at the door of this train named Amal Academy, with a bright blue sky awaiting me, I appreciate the laughs that came with late-night hard work, I appreciate the gol gappay, I love the songs, the games and the activities that came with stressful days and anxious nights. Without those stars in the gloomy night, the journey would’ve truly been dry. On my next journey, I promise to not avoid these chances of happiness. I’ll make sure the journey remains one that can be cherished for long.

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” — Sir Winston Churchill