It was the year of 2014. I remember that period as vividly like it happened yesterday. I had enrolled myself in BMS course and the college had just started. After a lot of hesitation and confusion, I had made up my mind to keep aside all my insecurities and take up a course that had everything I feared – Presentations, Networking with people and the one thing I dreaded the most – Public Speaking. For someone who has always preferred staying in her own cocoon, shutting the outside world to minimize human interaction because flying to mars sounded more realistic and easier to her than talking to new people and engaging them into a conversation for more than five minutes, a lot of contemplation went into thinking what if taking up this course was a huge mistake? What if I fail? But I had made up my mind this time, I am going to change, I have to stop just existing and actually start living. This is how began my journey to a new life.
It was the month of August and our college had just started. In the first week, we had to audition for Freshers competition and I decided to take part in it. On the day of auditions, I decided to wear my favorite Van heusen shirt and trousers because nothing makes one feel better than a well tailoured pair of clothes. I looked my absolute best, wore a big smile, entered the room and before I knew, I had completely nailed the auditions. I was in for the big day, the final showdown. I thought I was all prepared and everything was falling in place but just 10 minutes before I was supposed to go on the stage for a ramp walk, I got a glimpse of audience from the backstage and I froze. I wanted to run and go home. Five minutes left before I go on the stage and I was trembling with fear. I took out my phone and called my mom, thanks to my idea network, even in that low range area I was able to get in contact with her. I explained her everything she said “This is just the start, you are made for much greater things”. With those words running in back of my head and flashing my brand new Forever 21 dress, I walked that stage like I owned it. I made it through that round but could not make it through the last round. I did not win that day but a new person was born that day.
Fast forward to last year of my college, I had already given more than 150 Presentations, Participated in debates, Volunteered for our college fests, handled a marketing team, Choreographed dances of as big a team as of 50 students ( I am a Professional dancer) and passed out of college with flying colours.
Today, I am a proud student of SIBM without any fears and ready to take on the world and all it took for this change to happen was that one fleeting second of courage when I walked in wearing my favourite outfit with a confident smile and that one reassuring call from my mother.