Part A: Why Aditya Birla Group is big in my life
I’ve never really put much thought into what brands I buy. I’ve always gone with what feels just right. So, imagine my surprise when I found that a lot of what I own is actually a product of the Aditya Birla Group of Companies. I remember when the B-school interview season began, and I didn’t have anything in my wardrobe that could classify as business formals. My first thought about what shop to go to was Van Heusen, not knowing then that it belonged to the Aditya Birla Group. My first business suit came from Van Heusen. I’d say that it’s been quite lucky for me since I managed to convert every interview where I’d donned it. Also, if not for Van Heusen and Allen Solly, I wouldn’t have lasted a day at B-school if not for the ease with which I found clothes that were both comfortable as well as professional.
Also, my lifeline - my phone. Right from the moment I received my first phone, I’ve had an Idea SIM card, now Vodafone Idea. I’ve had network when no one else around me did. And oh, how I’ve laughed in all their faces! I spent my first few days in Bhubaneswar searching for an Idea store, just so that I would not have to change my network service provider.
Unknowingly, Aditya Birla Group has been a huge part of my life. And I think that’s one of the greatest things about the company. They don’t push their way in, they make it seem almost organic. As though, there was never really a choice. They beckon with the promise of safety, of concern, of familiarity, of home. They become a part of your identity – they bring out the best in you and make you believe that dreams do come true. It gave me the confidence to ace my interviews, it gave me the belief that I can reach anyone I want at any time. Truly, what an idea, Sirjee!
Part B: How I overcame a personal challenge to achieve my ambitions in life so far.
I consider myself quite blessed. I’ve had a family that has loved and protected me, and I think I’m quite lucky that I have been allowed to do pretty much whatever I wanted. I probably sound really privileged and spoiled. I guess I have to admit I am. But things aren’t as rosy as they appear. My greatest challenge has always been myself. My lack of faith in my ability, and my lack of faith in myself as a whole has been one of my greatest shortcomings and has always held me back. Despite being a student of psychology, I haven’t been able to work through the issue completely. It’s an uphill battle, where the enemy forces are constantly changing tactics. I have always been so afraid to be myself, that I don’t even know if I am who I think I am. It’s always been so easy to be in my comfort zone, that I never really attempted to explore that part of myself.
I moved out of my home, my sanctuary, my safe space, on the 16th of June 2019, for the first time. To say I was terrified would be an understatement. Of course, I was looking forward to a fresh start, to unbridled freedom, to independence. But I was so afraid. I was afraid to leave my mother behind, worried about what she would do without me. Worried about my grandparents, wondering who would help my mother take care of them if anything unfortunate happened. But, selfishly, the thing I was most afraid of was the very real chance that I would fail. That this fresh start, this golden opportunity, this tentative step into the real world, would all blow up in my face. I wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure, I wouldn’t make any friends, I wouldn’t get a good summer internship, I would fail at my subjects, I would fail at real life. It almost made me not want to go.
It was with these thoughts that I set foot on the XIMB campus for the first time and that’s when I decided - I may be afraid, but no one here knows that. And to be frank, they’re probably just as afraid as I am. I had two choices before me – I could put myself out there, at the risk of getting hurt, but also with a chance to shine; or I could stay back in my comfort zone. I decided to go with the former. It’s still difficult, and I’m taking baby steps. But I’m out of my comfort zone, away from home, and I’m surviving. I’d say that’s a win. And this is just the beginning.
#ABGLP #ABGWOOME #XIMB #ABGWOOMESEASON-2