I still remember the day I won my first award on stage. It was a second place for a debate titled” Science is Not God “, at the college fest .A gratifying experience. I had proved myself wrong .For the first time in my life I began to believe in my abilities. I always considered myself unlucky, till this happened. It was a revelation, a day that changed the way I think. Life is strange. The answers to many of our inhibitions are often answered by our very deeds!

I was a bright student at school and was always amongst the “action”. I was a part of the quiz team, the dramatics team and also a house captain but yet I was one amongst the crowd. I was never “The One”. It was always a case of “Many a Slip between the cup and the lip”. I was short-listed amongst the probable’s to represent my school at the Bournvita quiz contest, a prestigious fare during those days (late 1990’s). However when it mattered most, I was eliminated. The feeling when your left in the lurk after a mammoth effort is shattering. I was dejected .I remember the day when I saw my friend on television and told myself “I’m not lucky”.

A year down, there were selections for a stage play for the inter-school contests and I again was short-listed to play the lead role. On stage, I faltered and terribly messed up my dialogues during the selection. My teacher gracefully offered me a back-stage role of co-ordinating the event. I again stood applauding my friends on stage .It is a world where the “Winner takes all”, while the support staff remain mere onlookers. I resigned to my fate that I was never meant to make it big in life.

When man resigns to his fate, he goes into a deep slumber of “false acceptance”. It took me years to rise and prove myself wrong. The difference this time (when I finally won) was that I BELIEVED IN MYSELF and cared little about the outcome .It was a great feeling to soak in the glory of the applause , the applause of acceptance!

In the following months, I was on a winning spree, sweeping all the awards at various inter-collegiate debates. I had finally announced my arrival in the 3rd year of engineering. Ever since then, I have never looked back. I have failed many a times, but never have I lost my self-confidence.

”It’s a matter of time, before things are fine” , I convince myself when things go terribly wrong and more often I have proven myself right .

We often seek inspiration from others but fail to believe in our own abilities.

“Continuous Effort –not strength or intelligence- is the key to unlocking your potential.”-is an apt saying by Winston Churchill.

Dare to dream, work towards your goals and an ounce of self-belief can do a world of good because in life “There is always light….“. Go seek that ray of light, if your still shrouded in darkness !

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