Forgive my dreamy headline, for I just spent an hour reminiscing the fairy-tale my father used to tell me when I was a kid.
Not long before I was born, a father and a son decided to build a castle for their beloved and ever-growing family... A castle that will offer comfort and security, whilst braving all odds and standing the test of time. Having poured all their hopes, aspirations and hard-earned gold into that castle, now all they could do was trust the process. Eventually, but surely, they triumphed! And so, the family lived happily ever after.
Now, almost two decades later, I finally realize the gravity of that fairy-tale ending. You see, those two men were my father and grandfather, and that castle was the home they built together for us. An investment like this calls for a series of ‘right choices” to be made. I asked my father, "What is the most crucial part of building a house?"
“Neev mazboot honi chahiye (The foundation should be strong).” he replied.
By that time, ABG had already gained a reputation of trust and offered tremendous potential for future. Even though UltraTech Cement was introduced in the market only 6 years ago, the brand could be trusted - a notion on which ABG delivers till date. Since beginning, Aditya Birla Group has ventured into brave waters and washed up ashore with new developments, growth and reliability. Its corporate mark rightfully symbolises its vision. Like a Sun, ABG has impacted our lives in multiple ways, be it through Fashion retail, Financial Services or Telecom sector. Each milestone along ABG’s journey stands for its integrity, quality and reliability - values that are non-negotiable for any consumer, values that distinguish it from other competitors. How can I forget the first sim I ever bought - a Vodafone Idea connection with its 100 SMS/day pack. A hassle-free experience, I call it. Speaking of which, I can’t thank Pantaloons stores enough for offering a plethora of options under one roof, thus becoming my mother’s favorite shopping outlet. My brother prefers Louis Phillippe though. Before I jump on to part B and describe my story of struggles, let me quickly grab my lunch which my Mom neatly packed in this Freshwrapp aluminium foil!
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Okay, where was I.. right. The story of my life.
Looking back at the life I have lived, I realize that the only times it felt “challenging” was when I wished to be somewhere else, being someone else, or doing something else.
I was a fairly bright student in high school, considering that’s an acceptable evaluation criterion. Member of the Student Council, Editor of the School Magazine, basically a back-bencher on top of her game – I enjoyed my work because it came with new opportunities along the way. Come to Graduation, I was riding the Computer Science wave like every other engineering aspirant, not knowing whether it is the right choice since I didn’t make it for myself. Nevertheless, I persevered. During that course of time, I was able to carve out a path which suited me best. I participated in activities that helped me express myself better – like Dance, Event Management and much to my surprise, working on a Research Paper. It was all smooth-sailing until change came a knockin’.
Graduation sent me in a bit of a frenzy as I was still figuring out my way forward. After spending about a year and a half navigating through anxious days, sleepless nights, govt. job preparations, mock tests and bouts of self-doubt, I finally ended up in the most coveted institution in India – IIT Delhi.
A B-School comes with its fair share of opportunities - be it organising events or showcasing your talents – and each opportunity brings its own set of learnings. On this journey, the only challenge I ever felt was when I doubted myself and my abilities. In testing times like these, I hold steadfast to my self-confidence and value-system. Such a simple yet strong approach helped me gather confidence when I needed to address a huge audience, take crucial decisions for a team, deliver on a short deadline, or confront any wrong-doing. No matter the nature of the problem, our
self-confidence and
value-system are the two golden keys that we all possess. We just have to wield them right.
As Abraham Lincoln once said,
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to
succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.”