Proud Nour · The Growth Club

Proud Nour

I have to share something I’m really proud of today.

Back in May, I applied for a Schengen visa and got rejected — not enough documents. It was a blow. So this month, I decided to try again… but honestly, I was terrified. My first thought was, What if I mess it up again? What if I forget something? I couldn’t afford to pay the fees twice and go through that disappointment again.

I contacted an agency for help, hoping it would ease the pressure — but the woman handling it was slow, unresponsive, and totally unreliable.

I felt stuck. Time was running out, and I had a choice: either wait around for someone who wasn’t showing up for me… or show up for myself.

So I took the leap. I filled in the application on my own, found the soonest available appointment (which cost extra, by the way — prime time fee!), and submitted everything even though my heart was literally shaking. After that, a friend told me I probably should’ve filled in one part differently. I just laughed it off — it was a small thing. No need to spiral.

Then came the flight and hotel bookings. And I panicked. You’d think it was my first time traveling alone! I’ve done this before — bookings, planning, all of it. But this time, I was filled with fear. What if I didn’t follow the embassy’s exact requirements? What if I got rejected again? What if this whole thing was a mistake? Especially since I don’t even have a clear plan for what’s next — I just knew I wanted to get the visa while I still could.

I reached out to the agency lady again… and surprise! She replied once, then disappeared. Again. And in that moment, I just paused and said to myself: Why am I letting this fear run the show? Why am I putting myself under this pressure just because I’m scared to fail?

Then it hit me: What if I don’t fail? What if everything actually works out?Even if it doesn’t — it’s all pre-bookings. Nothing is final. No harm done.

So I sat down, took a breath, listed everything I needed, and organized my documents one by one. I did it. Completely on my own. And when I finished, I felt so proud. Not just because I completed the application — but because I didn’t let fear win this time.

I trusted myself. I pushed through the self-doubt. I stepped up for me.And that’s something I’m celebrating big time today. ✨

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Proud Nour