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The road of life is full of incredible highs, lows, and everything in between. It’s a daring journey filled with thrilling challenges and intense feelings. The process of growth is usually solitary, with some people struggling to grasp it and others succeeding.
When we’ve given up on something totally, we need to find a glimmer of optimism within ourselves. Therefore, the exact words we need to hear are always spoken in a voice which is within us. When you think the world is ending, pay close listen to that tiny gentle voice, and it might do wonders to you than you could ever imagine. So here’s me sharing a snippet of how I overcame certain things and how I made unconventional choices.
I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was a young girl, and I’ve also worked toward that goal. Considering Science is my favourite subject, I was able to ace it on the board exam for the 10th grade and decided to pursue my passion by joining the Science group.
Since high school, all I’ve been is a young woman with ambition who wants to achieve her dreams and gives it her all. My parents supported and encouraged me to continue even though I had no idea of the actual pressure. I began to feel more intimidated by the subject and wanted to give up. Though I was able to earn decent grades, they fell short of my expectations, and I now realise that my level of dedication to the topic was lacking. I was obliged to pursue something else because I didn’t match the requirements for the medical field, and I had no choice but to develop despair as a result.
“Realise that if a door is closed, it’s because what was behind it wasn’t meant for you.”
I felt even less worthy of pursuing my interests after seeing my friends enrol in college, and I gave up any prospect of ever doing so. I felt trapped and worthless and that there was nothing I could accomplish with my life. I was also upset that I had broken both my parents’ and my dreams, which made me feel like I had failed. However, after recalling George Eliot’s famous saying, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been”, I realised that there are still many options open to me.
The hard choice
A different decision may occasionally disclose an unexpected path. For instance, I wanted to do something that has less stress and is easy to study, so I chose English as my major and completed my bachelors in it. I gave the subject a lot of attention over the course and eventually grew to enjoy it. My new passion was literature, and I wasn’t sorry for making that choice. I had good grades and did well in a number of subjects.
I experienced a variety of internal changes throughout the year, just like other teenagers, and I never realised it. I also fell into depression. To get through that phase, I focused on myself and took even better care of myself than before.
Knowing what’s right for you and what makes you happy is part of focusing on oneself. Although it is a labour-intensive process that will change your life, the outcomes will astound you. It will be challenging due to different distractions, but if you persevere, it will give you greater happiness and delight. And I graduated with good grades.
What’s next?
“The greatness of art is not to find what is common but what is unique.”
I choose to pursue my master’s after receiving my bachelor’s degree. I found this challenging once more, but I wanted to try something different this time. I just so happened to come across international studies and looked into it. I decided to give it a go because I thought the topic was intriguing and unique.
“It’s by learning new things in life that makes us grow.”
I’m happy that I chose international studies for my master’s. This was an enormous change. I was and still am a very introverted person. During my undergraduate studies, I hardly attended seminars or wrote articles. However, during my master’s programme, I learned many things about myself that I had no idea I was capable of. As well as keeping up with local news and happenings, I discovered new things about the world around me.
Since I have a science background, it was incredibly challenging to deal with various disciplines, including history, the global economy, and commerce. Later, I continued to concentrate on areas I considered difficult since I had a passion for knowledge. I received my master’s degree, but an unanticipated epidemic left me jobless.
COVID and the job hunt
When the COVID-19 wave arrived, I was in my final year of college. As a student, this didn’t impact my academic performance, and I assumed it would pass quickly, like other fevers. I became quite concerned about my profession after noticing that the death tolls were rising daily. By the end of the COVID-19 second wave, I had found a method to advance in my career. I successfully landed a position at an IT company which had no connection with international studies. In the meantime, I also wanted to work as a full-time research scholar.
Balancing priorities
A classic definition of work-life balance is how much time you spend working and how much time you spend with your friends and family and following your own hobbies. In the end, it is all about ‘priorities’. Your physical, emotional, and mental health may all benefit from a better work-life balance in addition to your general well-being. Switching up your activities can prevent you from being overly focused on any particular activity. I’ve fallen a little short of being able to follow my interest because of my full-time job. But I somehow found a way to pursue it.
“Action expresses priorities.”
I managed to plan time between my job and career since, as a student of international studies, I wanted to stay up-to-date in the field and become a professor. I chose to focus on my primary career because working in IT is not my cup of tea. So I decided to concentrate even more on the area. Time management is crucial while pursuing your passion since the effort and time you put into something may not pay off immediately but will in the long run.
Staying committed to the objective
I’ve always been that girl who puts in her all but falters due to a lack of self-motivation, and I never wanted to be that person again. I’m motivated to avoid making the same mistakes twice from the lessons I’ve learned from my experience.
Make yourself a priority because, at the end of the day, you are your longest commitment. Stay committed to your objective despite the obstacles in your path. Once you plant the seeds of hard work, you can reap the precious life you’ve always desired. Since you are ultimately your own judge, never allow anyone else to do so.
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About the Author
In addition to international news, cupcakes, and coffee lift Shamini’s spirits. She holds a master’s degree in international relations from Women’s Christian College, Chennai, and she has a knack for understanding what is going on in the overseas market and never fails to stay up to date on current events. Her primary research area is the Indo-Pacific region, but she also studies maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean, Middle Eastern culture, global governance, and foreign relations. Shamini is a driven professional who chose ‘The International Prism’ as a career launching pad.
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