We look back to some rare days in our nostalgia. And today, I am
nostalgic enough . The trace in my memory is still fresh and alive as if
this was not the day alike most of my days which fade away from the memory as
if I never lived them. It was 30th September 2009. I was a ninth
grader back then. Quiet and shy girl. I knew I could express myself well but I always
hesitated to speak up. I wondered how much my classmates talked all day long,
amid the classes, at the water cooler, on the bus home. I got exhausted
watching them. One day life sent a little window of opportunity to this shy
girl. It was Hindi elocution competition at school. I participated. I took the
risk of speaking up before people.
Picture it: A shy quite girl in her PT uniform, yellow
T-shirt and white skirt running out of her bustling class and following(for
almost a couple of minutes approx.) an ever smiling teacher who is walking
royally in the corridor unknown.
“Sir….she finally manages to say…
“Yes”. He turns around and answers calmly, smile still
resting on his lips…
“I want to participate in Hindi elocution competition” she spoke
in state of nervousness,
“Okay, you can come to staff room at 4th period
tomorrow; other participants will also be there. We need only two people so
only best two will be selected.” He spoke gently and entered inside the staff
room...
It was an achievement for me. I managed to speak up before
sir and dared to participate. Next day I went there I saw four other
participants. Pradeep sir was there with his radiant smile. He gave us a poem “kaidi aur kokila” and asked us to be
prepared with it the next day. He
declared he would choose best two among us on the basis of recitation of this
poem the next day.
After completion of
my homework that day. I memorized the poem by heart (I still remember the
lines). I tried reciting it in front of
the mirror. Next day I found myself standing in front of sir in the same state
of nervousness. One by one others
recited the poem. Now it was my turn, I looked at my charismatic mentor, he was
seated calmly. I started reciting. “kokil
bolo toh….. When I finished reciting, I was confident. I knew I did
well. I could not believe my ears when
he appreciated me (that meant a lot, coming from a teacher who was my favorite
and who made my geography classes interesting).Happiness visited my heart. I was selected as
a participant.
The day of competition arrived. I was ready and determined
to win. I heard my name when microphone blared. I paced to stage with my
fingernails digging my palm. On my way I saw Pradeep sir gleaming at me with
All- the- best look. I needed all the bests as this shy quite girl was facing
the stage for the first time in her fourteen year old life. I recited the poem
with all confidence I could muster at that point of time. I had hopes. Soon there
was declaration of the winner, runner up and I was none. I cannot describe how I
felt but it was kind of creepy. I was back to an empty class. It was games
class. Everyone was out in the school playground. I sat down on my seat. Yes I was
at ease in the empty classroom. I needed solitude. Tears rolled out of my eyes
as I started a mental conversation with myself.
Enough.. You wanted to try public speaking Kritika. You got a chance. .Now you please get back to
your normal self. .I wept in solitude and all negative feelings came to my head.
I would have given up but the next day
washed all these negative thoughts out of me. I went to school and I was back
to my normal quite self even more withdrawn. But I was summoned by Sir and
everything just changed. Sir called me and I exactly remember the kind tone in
which he said “Kritika, I wanted to say something to you” though sad I was but I
tried to be normal and replied “yes sir”
He said “Don’t be sad, nothing is lost if you have not won”.
Those words triggered my helplessness and I said “I was confused sir” (I must
have told I AM confused sir instead of I WAS) he looked at me with
understanding eyes and said calmly “you performed very well, means, if I would
have been there you would have been the winner certainly because I know you are
the best”.
I stood there in a state of pleasantness. I was changed. It
only takes minute and encouraging words to shed apprehensions and embrace a
change. Those words worked miracle for me. Those led me to my confidence,
promoted my self- respect and made me much better. Soon I became a confident
orator and was no longer afraid of speaking up. I also won Best orator award at
school in twelfth grade. Some days change your life. It was one of those days.
I have a story deep
in my mind of how great my mentor is. His incredible understanding, his aplomb,
and one of his core traits of greatness is his world class language, the
language of passion, the language of leadership, language of possibility and
hope. I am truly blessed to have a mentor like him. Whenever I get engulfed in
negativity, his words come to my mind and a ray of positivity filters it all.
