"Our time was much simpler" We all have heard this line from our parents. Indeed, it is so true! Who else, could know about the fast-paced world we live in, other than us- the youth! Being from a humble background, fashion for me was limited to wearing bangles or applying henna on festivals. As if my ignorance was not enough to hold me back from learning about fashion, the rigorous curriculum of dental college made it harder for me to catch up.
We, humans tend to self criticize ourselves to such an extent that it takes a toll on your confidence. I went through the same phase until ABFRL happened to me. After taking CAT 2018 and applying to various colleges it was time for interviews. I gave all my interviews wearing Indian attire (salwar-kameez). The day offer letter from XIMB came was one of the happiest and also one of the scariest days of my life. The letter enlisted all the necessities that had to be carried along to the college, one of them was 'Formals'. Since I belonged to the medical field, where most of my days went by covered under the winter of an apron. Where the concept of formals was not entirely new to me, but the categories it came along blew my brains away.
Business schools require formals, business formals, and smart casuals. Even after searching the entire local market nobody could differentiate among them. The brands who knew the difference did not have any women section in their stores. My search ended when I stumbled upon the Allen Solly store. The display of the store itself instilled a spark of hope in me. They had formal clothes lining for women! The staff knew each and everything about the formals and their categories but there was still a big obstacle that had to be addressed- My Under-confidence.
I was very skeptical about whether I will be able to pull off the business suits or not? What if I make a joke of myself among the other students who would be belonging to the corporate world and had a good taste of its fashion? What if I don't fit into the clothes or the MBA world? The staff sensed my apprehensions and calmed me down. They informed me that Allen Solly's formals were accepted and followed widely in the B-schools. I tried the various designs, the color options that they had and loved them. It seemed as if the size was tailor-made for. The fabric was not only fine but also comfortable and light to carry. For someone who had never worn such formals, it was a relief to find the perfect brand.
While trying out the outfits I also realized where I was making the mistake. Allen Solly's shirts, trousers, and blazers were subtle but still, when I had put them on I looked confident, I looked sharper! Why? Because they have a Style. As said by Yves Saint Laurent "Fashions fade, style is eternal". You do not need embellished dresses or big bows to look fashionable but even a perfect fit of simple, solid-colored shirt and pants can bring out the confidence in you. ABFRL not only brought a change in my dressing but also my attitude towards life. It made the transition from a dental surgeon to an MBA grad so much easier for me. I completely resonate with Allen Solly's tagline "My world, My Way".
"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light"
-Aristotle
The above quote is old but it sums up my idea about life. "Do not worry, if you cannot do anything about it then try to adjust to it, learn from it and stay strong"- this is what my brother advised me to do if I faced a problem ever. I and my elder brother were great friends. We shared a deep bond as all other siblings do. I used to spend the majority of my day with him having fun, fights, discussions, arguments, and whatnot. There was nothing in this world that he did not have knowledge about. He used to help me with all my academic doubts (including homework). Imagining a life without him never occurred to me and I did not even have to imagine it, because it happened for real.
I lost my brother at a very young age of 20. He suffered from a genetic disease Muscular Dystrophy, which till date is incurable. He could walk for some initial years of his life but spent a huge part stuck to the bed. Since the day I could remember about realizing my existence I can only picture myself as taking care of him. But the circumstances were not as big a challenge as was losing my brother.
My brother's absence created a huge void in my life. It became tough for me to converse with other people or socialize. The hollowness engulfed my entire family because of which the communication gap increased between me and my parents. I had lost my companion and there was nothing I could have done. Amidst the mishaps, I started weaving a dream of growing up to be a doctor to help people like him. But as time passed by I discovered myself to be more and more lost. My family grew apart and that created the stress which was least required. I took the medical entrance and failed to clear it.
The next year I again took the entrance exams and was able to fetch a dental college. While packing I came across one of my brother's self-made cars. I had witnessed him built it but before that day I couldn't realize the worth it had. My brother did not have the luxury of technology or any guidance. He learned everything all by himself with the support of his curiosity for knowledge and always kept a smile on his face. I realized how I had created barriers for my own self despite being physically able and of sound mind. After that day I decided to live the way my brother had lived all his life- facing challenges with bravery and without making any excuses.
I joined the dental school, performed well enough to be awarded the best student award twice. I decided to make a plan to execute my dream to help people, hence, I took CAT and joined XIMB to learn management and implement those skills in establishing an inclusive healthcare organization. My efforts were also made towards amending the gap that had been created between me and my family. I still feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to live with and learn from a true soul who even in his absence keeps inspiring me.
#ABGLP #ABGWOOME #XIMB
