Most of my work day today was spent carrying out appraisals on my team. At my turn, I diligently completed the first page of the document which included entering my length of employment with the company as two years. Two years. SubhanAllah, two years this week. Some weeks into employment I began to wonder whether I had made the right decision and contemplated leaving. Yet I stayed and, alhamdulillah, here I am. This takes me back to September 1987 when I started studying chemistry for the first time. I didn't like my teacher and didn't even know what a bunsen burner was. I asked my father if I could give up chemistry for another easier subject. Alhamdulillah how wise he was: not insisting that I carry on with the subject that would be useful for my future, not pressurising me in any way. Rather, he left me to make that decision myself. He knew me. He knew that if I was told to do something, I would pseudo-rebel. Alhamdulillah I persisted...and seven years later I completed university with effectively a chemistry degree. I wonder now, two years down the line, where my persistence in this role will lead me. I sure hope that I won't still be here at year seven; and if I am, hopefully I would have had a couple of bouts of maternity leave in between, inshaAllah. May Allah (swt) have mercy and guide us all to the best in this life and those that follow, ameen.