How I overcame challenges to achieve my ambitions in life so far:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both… and I—
I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” - Robert Frost
The first time I read this poem, I was in 9th standard. ‘The Road Not Taken’ had a profound effect on me. I didn’t realize it then, but a few years down the line, I faced a similar situation. At that point, I could relate to it so very easily. For the majority of my life, I harbored the dream to be either an architect or an engineer. I loved the concept of building something from scratch and shaping it into something useful, wonderful, something new. The idea was rooted in my mind, and I worked hard all through my school years to build a foundation for it. My first hurdle was Physics itself. I gave it my hardest efforts, tried cramming even, but still, I couldn’t understand it as well as other subjects (I still can’t!). In spite of it all, I persevered. And then came the board exams. It was a trying time for me. My family had certain expectations, I had certain expectations. Sadly, they were for naught. I had A-Levels in everything except Physics. It was, honestly, a low blow.
Despite that, I was determined to make it through. I gathered my resolve, registered myself for almost all common admission tests (for Indian colleges), gave the exams, and waited. It was an agonizing wait. I fretted a lot, tried to be productive in the meantime, and kept myself optimistic. It all went down the drain. Again. Physics – again.
Here I had the option of dropping a year, studying the same course and attempt it all anew. Or I could make do with a sub-par college and squander away my time, my parent’s money, and an opportunity to be something, someone worthwhile.
I contemplated in misery over the situation for days. It was something that would frame the rest of my life. It was a monumental decision – to continue on or to diverge.
I decided.
I took neither.
I still had one option - to build from scratch. In my yesteryears, I had the privilege of being taught by a tremendous professor who ignited a flame in me to learn. He inspired me to be better, to utilize my potential, and diversify my limits. Hence, I made the momentous decision to pursue Mathematics at the University of Delhi. I was starting from the bottom, and the way uphill was riddled with challenges in every walk of life. But persistence, hard work, and honesty always persist. I waded through rough waters in the coming years, and I survived. Now I’m at IMT, grateful for this opportunity and glad I took the road less traveled by.
#ABGLPWooMe #Season2
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