After innumerable bombardments of each moment I have experienced at JNC 2013 of AIESEC India, a lot of my Twitter followers have unfollowed me and my Facebook followers are complaining if I have taken up Marketing department of the organisation.
To both, I only smile. For only I know what those 6 days mean to me. Here is a blog to one motivating interaction I had at the conference with this guy from Jaipur, whose name I forgot to ask, whose face I do not remember.
We were supposed to be sharing "STORY OF YOUR LIFE" with the unknown person on our left. Icebreaker. I started with "I am an engineering drop-out" and sat dumb.
As if my life had nothing more than that one year I wasted jumping from one engineering college to another, in pursuit of satisfaction.
"So your one year is gone?", he questioned curiously as I mentally tried all the 'cool-down' techniques to stop myself from punching him on his face.
"Yeah" I felt a year behind.
For the last one year, I have taken immense proud in telling people about my 'The Bold Step' but deep down, I have felt like a loser.
Loser who didn't enjoy Calculus and all that jazz.
I questioned my potential and doubted my ability And no, 3 Idiots had no impact on that one decision I made- shifting from Engineering to Psychology. And that moment suddenly, I felt guilty for that one year gone. But I shouldn't be. This guy said so. He made me count my that one lost year. Like major events of the year. He said it would help.
That one lost year..
- I made friends with amazing bunch of people, who now are figuring out their decision of engineering.
These 6 friends I am telling you about, are the ones who stay forever types. Hopefully.
- I became Miss Fresher's (NOW STOP LAUGHING!) in that college, got chased, participated in almost every event of cultural fest, did good, took up with a few professors (Also the trustee of the college) and enjoyed the shit out of my lost moments.
- I got selected for IIT-B's Techfest and won 3 competitions.
- I convinced my ex to get back to me, had a beautiful relationship with lovely memories and failed terrible again.I learned that moving on is like a bandage on the wound. It hurts when you pull it off. It terrifically hurts. Once the bandage is off, only then does the wound heal.
- I battled one of those horrified disease on the planet without letting anyone than these 6 friends take a hint of. I had ample moments when I cried, felt helpless, developed suicidal tendencies, couldn't take the pain anymore and hesitated to face 'healthy' people. I lost hair and weight and regained.I challenged my body and won. I learned overcoming my own limits.
- I worked in a news-channel for 4 months, earned 60k total and a lot of experience. I also learned how to tackle seniors who see you as their competition for no specific reason. I went on field and learned how being a Deepak Chorasia isn't easy.
- I worked in a couple of online magazines, contributed some articles which made sense.
- I joined a couple of NGOs, taught some 50 kids, made them happy and jived at the end of each session. I learned how much making others happy makes me happy.
- I made a little place for me in the virtual world. This blog.
- I succumbed to that yellow magic pill - Alprax and made my health even more miserable. I learned how bad habits are tough to get rid off and decided to not embrace anymore now.
- I do not regret being inadequate now. I am happier than I could ever be. Whatever happened, happened for a reason. May be something more exciting awaits for me.
Thank you Jaipur guy. I have a better story of my life now.
These 6 friends I am telling you about, are the ones who stay forever types. Hopefully.