Weaving Dreams Through Darkness: A Tale Of Grit And Grace

Imagine chasing a shimmering mirage in the Sahara, each grain of sand singing of hope but threatening to bury you in despair. That was my dance with the CAT, the holy grail for every MBA aspirant, a dance choreographed by shadows, and illuminated by resilience.

My vision, a fragile tapestry woven with threads of photoreceptor loss, became the biggest hurdle.
Bullied and belittled, I learned to weave my dreams with grit, my goals a dosser unfurling against the wind of doubt. My parents, my anchors in this emotional storm, held me steady as I navigated the choppy waters of dreams. Then came the tidal wave of Covid, swallowing the last few months of the exam and drowning my hopes for the five year integrated program - IPM entrance. My months of preparation turned to dust. But like a sunflower turning to the sun, I found new direction in the CAT, the ultimate battlefield for a visually impaired warrior.

The online exam loomed, a dragon spewing thousands of words in a firestorm of time pressure. Fear licked at my heels, but my parents' unwavering belief became my ultimate shield. With each word that blurred on the screen, I saw their faces and heard their cheers. I battled through burning eyes and watery vision, each solved question a brick in the fortress of my ambition.

Emerging from the digital arena, drained but defiant, I knew I had fought my best. My parents, my eternal optimists, echoed, "You've already won. You conquered weakness, silenced doubters, and earned the right to dream".  And then, the result was a victory anthem, an invitation to IIM Nagpur, the melody of success sweet on my lips. The interview was an intricate ballet. Every step measured, every word weighed. The acceptance email, a teardrop of joy rolling down my cheek, whispered the five magic words, "We are proud of you", from my parents, the orchestra in my journey.

Today, I step into the hallowed halls of my dream world, the scars of battles fought and won etched on my spirit. But the journey isn't over. Screens and shadows will remain, and new obstacles rise with each sunrise. Yet, like Abhimanyu, I stand tall, spear of determination in hand. Like Arjuna, I fix my gaze on the target, my parents my Krishna, guiding me through the tangle. This is not just my story; it's a drapery woven with the threads of every dreamer fighting their own battles. Remember, when you stumble, rise like a phoenix. Run, fall, dust yourself off, and run faster.

For in the tapestry of life, the threads of struggle add color, and the triumphs, shimmering gold. Never stop weaving your dreams, dear reader. The light at the end of the tunnel waits, and when
you finally reach it, the view will be breathtaking.

Namasvi Mehta is a PGP-1 student at IIM Nagpur and an executive member of tHRive - the HR club. She is a BBA graduate with a specialization in HR. Apart from this, she is a passionate artist who loves arts, music, dance, and writing.