I hail from a small town in Kerala. I did my initial phase of schooling i.e. till fourth standard in a local school and it was a malayalam medium school. Even though I learned to read, write and understand English, speaking was out of question. Then, I joined a reputed English medium school in my fifth standard. New uniform, new friends… I was more than excited to go to my new school. The first day of my fifth standard, my class teacher walks in to the class and announces that all students must speak only in English. All my happiness faded away the moment I heard this. A lot of new friends, but I can’t talk to them because I don’t know to speak in English. I started crying.
My teachers consoled me, told me they will help me with my English. They encouraged me to start speaking to my classmates without fear. But, I felt so timid to approach them because I knew I will make mistakes when I start speaking in English. Then, my mom told me that the only way to conquer my fear is to face it. She said my friends may laugh at me initially, but when I keep talking to them without hesitation, days will not be far when they will start laughing with you. And, that is exactly what I did.
My proficiency in English started improving gradually. I went on to top my board exam from that school and did my engineering and bagged a job in an MNC. From a fifth standard student who couldn’t speak one full sentence in English to an MBA student in one of India’s most reputed B-school, the journey was never easy, but it was worth each moment. And here I continue my journey, upwards, towards my dreams.