Miracle Happens When Faith and Hard Work Go Hand in Hand

Sitting on a bench in front of waterfront, I noticed that tides were more powerful and violent than before. Pursuing Btech in biotech is not a big deal, but from a renowned university is always a matter of concern. And in this context, my parents are satisfied regarding my career. But it was never the same and simple a couple of years ago. Ten summers with the length of ten long winters have gone. While trying to stay atop the greasy career pole, I found some meaningful things were slipping from my grasp, but I thank heaven when I look back to those days. I, myself didn't know where my life was moving on. 

At one point of time, I had a friend and at the other point I was all alone. Sometime I would feel so lonely and disheartened that I would start scolding and blaming God and then sometimes I would convince myself for having no reason to be angry on HIM. I didn't like the place where I was thrown in for college. I hated that environment, that college, those students, its staff, its food, everything as if it were a big punishment for me. Yeah, I should surely recall Bryan Adams' Summer of 69's words...'Oh yea...those were the worst (modified) days of my life...' Those two years I just spent like jail over there. It was a residential college in Vizag and I was from Bhubaneswar. 

I didn't understand their language and they couldn't even speak Hindi. This regional difference kept me more aloof from that crowd. In the span of two years, I'd hardly attended two months of classes. Whenever my lecturers searched for me in the class, I would not be in the hostel, not even in the town but rather would be at my house, in Bhubaneswar. I gradually started falling sick and weak, so was often granted permission to go home, but somewhere I was glad falling sick. Our college followed strict disciplinary rules. 

We were not allowed to go out, we were not allowed to watch TV either, and we had no functions, no enjoyments. Only on Sundays, we were allowed to go out and that to only with our guardians and were allowed to watch TV only for a couple of hours, but only Telugu channels. Our classes were from 6am to 1:30 and after that study hour would start from 3pm up to 10:30 at night. We were not allowed to keep any electronic appliances with us. At times I would think, did dad put me into some army training camp?

In my school, I used to be counted among the best students. Scoring not less than 95% in any exam and securing first position had become a habit for me. But by the time I was in Xth standard, I'd lost that quality in me and was able to secure only 75% in the ICSE boards. And after coming here, I found my interest totally fading away from studies. 

Only 1 month was left for my boards and I was still at my house. My principal called up my parents and he had nothing but only complaints before them. He told, "Till now not a single student is dropped in boards but now only because of your daughter, our reputation is on a stake. 

This girl has not attended classes, theories, practical, I'm afraid she won’t be able to survive the board exams." My parents were so upset and embarrassed that they spoke to me nothing and left. In that one month, some miracle happened and my hard work and sheer determination helped me getting through the most difficult hurdle of my life. I had secured 90% in my 12th boards. I was not so happy seeing my result as I was looking at the proud face of my parents.