Jen’s PASS Diary: once more unto the breach

“Never allow carping critics to deter you from success. Instead, silence them with it.”

― Christian Baloga

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

– Winston Churchill

Well, what have I been up to, since my last post? Note: I don’t represent PASS here. This is a brain dump of my own thoughts.

Briefly, I’ve suffered a series of malicious problems over the Internet. Like many other tech women, I just put up with it. I’ve reported it to the police and I’ve been talking to them over the past ten days or so, and the matter is now proceeding through that process. Since it’s now a Police matter, I won’t go into details. I will simply say that I’ve changed most of my contact details now and I’ll set up a dedicated blog email address so that people can still contact me. Details to follow.

I’ve been distracted, to say the least. It’s been suggested to me that I should step down from various community activities, including the MVP Program. However, I am not going to do that. I think it sends out the wrong signal, which is that these people/person (I still don’t know who it is) will win in the end. So, whilst I’m clinging on with my fingernails, I am still clinging on and I am not going away any time soon.

I’ve served on the Board of PASS for the last two years, and I’ve been an MVP for five years now in my own right. I’m one of only four female MVPs in Europe, although we are all Data Platform now. I’ve written my own book all by myself – not just a chapter or so! And I run my own one woman band small business.

I’m happy just to be part of the crowd for as long as it lasts. It won’t last forever and one day, it will end. I’ve met some great people along the way, learned languages In foreign countries, lost friends who weren’t friends, travelled to more places than I ever dreamed of seeing and I’ve achieved more than a wee lassie from Kilmarnock could ever have hoped for. These problems have made me down but not out. Life has thrown so much at me already and there is a truth in the saying, that which doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.

Regarding PASS, I’m not going to let down the 1.2k plus people who voted for me, and I won both elections outright – twice, once in 2013 and once in 2015. That was a huge mark of faith in me and it’s a lot to live up to, and I don’t want to let people down. I know full well there are areas I could do better and I am trying. I am also very aware that there are people who don’t like me or what I’m doing. But that isn’t everyone and there are still people standing behind me and beside me who believe in the community things I am trying to do. However distractions like this do not help, but, despite this, I have still managed to keep my phone commitments to PASS this week leading up to Christmas plus keep on top of things BA. I’m excited to be part of the team and I feel I’m working with people who are friends as well as team colleagues and I don’t want to lose that.

I will continue to send all problems on to the right police process. I have the “courage to continue” and I want to thank everyone who has been in touch over the past week or so, with their support. I’ve commented previously about the kindness of strangers and how nice people can be sometimes, even if they don’t really know me at all. also, to the kind hearts from SQLFamily – too many to mention! – but I think I’ve been in touch to thank everyone personally by now. Usually, I’d name people who had helped me, but I’ve turned a bit paranoid about mentioning names in case they get some problems, too. A rather bad halo effect 🙁

hopefully the next post will be more cheerful!

jen

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