Some great man rightly said, "Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." From time to time we face smaller or bigger challenges in our life. It is our attitude towards those challenges that plays the most important part. I believe, life gives us challenges to make us stronger and to mould us, so that one day we could spread our wings and fly.
I have had my fair share with facing and overcoming challenges in my life. Being born and brought up in a small village, I had to struggle for getting access to even the basic necessities like food, water, electricity and education. I have seen my mother work in the farm, just to ensure that I could live a better life. Seeing you mother suffer hardships is never easy. But it only made me more determined to work harder in life, and give her the life that she deserved. No good school was available nearby, hence I had to travel 40 kilometers everyday just to attend school. In an attempt to create a balance, I worked in my family's farm in the morning, then attended my classes, and came back to continue farm work in the evening. I would study in the late night hours. Often there was no electricity, and I had to study either in candle light or wake up in wee hours of the morning to make use of natural light.
But my efforts paid off, and i got admission to a decent engineering college. Initially I was hesitant studying among people who came from big cities and was apprehensive in interacting with anyone. But slowly I tried to come out of my cocoon and tried to build up my self-confidence, one day at a time. I learned the art of socializing and collaborating, without which, one cannot succeed no matter how smart we are. The challenges that I had faced in my childhood, instilled in me the rigor to work hard to achieve my goals. My determination, provided me the motivation to never give up.
And here as I stand today, in this prestigious institution amidst the lush greenery, i reflect upon the fact that were it not for the challenges that I had to face, i would have never had the strength and drive to work hard. It is the difficult roads, that lead to the most beautiful destinations. Unless you see the dark, how will you ever know the work of light?! Our struggles make us patient, sensitive and stronger. We should not limit our challenges, rather we should challenge our limits. Always remember, " Obstacles do not block the path. They ARE the path!"