By Michelle Steiner “You can go to college.” The student said. I will never forget the hope that I felt hearing those words. I did not think that with my learning disability, I was able to go to college. I had professionals who told me that I could not do it, and that if I did, I would most likely not go beyond community college. “Isn't that for smart kids?” Certainly not those with disabilities or who struggled with math. But finally, someone believed in me and gave me inspiration to follow my dreams. From the very beginning, school was a struggle for me academically and socially. I was diagnosed with a learning disability in kindergarten. My teacher noticed that I was having difficulty with writing my name, counting, tying my shoes, and doing dot-to-dot pages. I was evaluated by the school psychologist, who diagnosed me with having one. I had to repeat the grade in a new school in your district. I had specialized instruction in all areas and accommodations. The specialized instruction was designed to be based on my needs. I also had the accommodations of having the test read aloud and extended test time. Having these supports enabled me to be in the regular education classroom for Science, Social Studies, and Reading. My brain needed these accommodations to process information and to even the playing field among my peers. By the time I was in high school, I was in all regular education classes except for math and a resource room. I also struggled socially in school. I went to a small conservative school district, where if you were one of them, you were accepted. It was clear from the start that I did not fit in. Everyone knew that I struggled in the classroom and went to learning support. Quickly, I got labeled the outcast. I also had those who doubted that I could achieve my dreams with one. I had a learning support teacher who did not think that I could handle college and suggested a trade school. I also had a psychiatrist who told me that I would most likely not go beyond community college. Despite the doubts and fear, I went forward. I faced more stigma in college from both faculty and students. Disability accommodations were considered cheating. When I asked for a calculator in a math class, the professor told me we use our brains, not calculators, here. I had another professor who told me that I would have limited job choices when I graduated. My grades were dropping, and I had people tell me that I could do better. Even with all of the struggle, I did not give up. I could hear the voice of the student teacher saying, I could do it. I was able to graduate with an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. I was also able to graduate from Slippery Rock University many years later. I found a program that had the least amount of math and science possible. I also had disability accommodations, and I advocated for myself. Becoming a published author was another dream of mine that came true. I always loved to read and write. I had friends in a writing group who encouraged me to write about having one. I was not ready at the time. When I was ready, it was one of the most healing things that I have ever done. Other people say that they can relate to my stories. I write about having a disability at my blog Michelle's Mission www.michellesmission.com and feature my photography too. I also work as a teacher's aide in a school for students with disabilities. I find it rewarding to help children with them. Oftentimes, listening to them is like hearing a recording of myself at their age. Many times, I hear students say that they hate their disability and wish they did not have one. I get to tell them that having a disability is not a bad thing. All the students and staff know, or will soon find out, not to ask me to help with math. My brain is not wired for that. But I can help with other subjects and life lessons. I also show my students how to advocate. One day, they will leave me, but their disability will remain. They must learn how to manage it now and speak up for themselves. I am not the same person as when I was diagnosed all of those years ago. I have gone through struggles with learning and making friends. The path to success has not always been a smooth, straight one. I have had many twists, turns, and bumps on the journey. Many people doubted me, but I also had those who believed in me. I could not have been successful without the support of family, friends, and my teachers. Especially the encouraging ones who saw the potential in me when I did not. There have been failures and hurt, but there has also been healing. Writing has been a powerful tool in this, and has given me a voice. Today, as I work with students with disabilities, I encourage them and tell them that they can do it too.

Summary - Nashik ITI celebrated Shivrajyabhishek Din, online inaugurated by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Shreekant Patil inspired students on innovation & startups, pledging guidance. Event included Chief Guest Smt. Simatai Hire & honored Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha's vision. NASHIK, MAHARASHTRA – June 6, 2025 – Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Nashik, proudly celebrated the auspicious Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shivrajyabhishek Din today, June 6th, 2025 from 10 AM to 12 PM. The statewide celebrations for all government ITIs in Maharashtra were inaugurated online by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Hon. Devendra Fadnavis. This impactful celebration was organized under the motivation and leadership of the Hon. Minister Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Government of Maharashtra. Nashik ITI marked this significant occasion with a special event designed to inspire and motivate its students. The celebration featured distinguished speakers and eminent personalities from Nashik. A highlight of the event was the address by Shreekant Patil, a prominent industry leader. Drawing inspiration from Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's skills, innovations, and courage, Patil urged students to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset. He challenged each student to commit to developing at least one innovative idea and transforming it into a viable business. Demonstrating his commitment, Patil personally pledged to guide these students in converting their ideas into real products and startups. Furthermore, Shreekant Patil extended an invitation to the ITI Principal and Vice Principal to establish a BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) Standards Club at Nashik ITI. This initiative aims to educate students about Indian standards, fostering quality and compliance in their future endeavors. The event saw the gracious presence of Chief Guest Mrs. Simatai Hire, along with Vice Principal Mohan Telangi, Apprenticeship Advisor Mr. J. J. Patil, and other dedicated ITI faculty members. More than 100 enthusiastic students actively participated in the proceedings.

Trapped inside, with a voice scared to speak Told by many, talents that are unique A fear of society, with a brain loaded with ideas Daily battles to fight his fears What is worse? Confrontations or mistakes... Smiles that are real or smiles that are fake Hugs that are tight, or no hugs at all Punched in the face or kicked with a ball Old in the books, young at heart Life is a journey, but how do I start Where do I begin, for I fear that the end is already near Do I start or do I end, how do I steer The public, which I fear draws near in my dreams Loud cheers, some laughter and babies that screams Is this destiny, is this the end? Or a vision of some sort, my mind cannot comprehend

It was 2010, August 25 th, when I moved to my father's house with my mother after 5 -years divorce. I was 5 and could not easily  cope with the atmosphere at the new house as I have grown up by my grandmother until my fifth. Because, my parents got divorced and mother left me with grandmother studying at another region, at the Medical college in order to relieve her stress. Hence I love my grandmother mostly. But I had to leave her and every day crying , I missed her so much as there was a lack of her love for me at my "new " house. It was very difficult for a young girl.I could not even dare to call him dad. I felt as if I was adopted by absolutely strange family. There was a strange distance between my dad and me due to the 5 gap years not feeling his existence.He and his realatives also could not adapt my actions, attitude towards them and treated  me as a stranger , banning  lots of things those I wanted. I could not wear what I wanted, I could not go to my grandmother's home and even I had a little time to play with my peers.My mom could not do anything for me as none considered her as a person at father's home. Before I have never understood why she endured all hardships there . She could work for herself divorcing with dad.( I understood her later) She always wanted me not to be isolated, and not to feel lack of father's love. But, the ambience at my father's house was that toxic, I can not still cope with it . My dad's relatives have many bad habits which I have never seen in my grandmorher's home. They all together drink alcohols which always causes bad consequences in relationships.Such kind of situations always made me demotivated.Especially after the time when I had learned about my father's ex- wife and his daughter,I could not releive depression during a month. This acknowledgement resulted in my first step to write poems.Since that day, worries, difficulties ,unsatisfactions improve my creativity to write stories ,poems .I understood that I need to adapt that atmosphere in that house and seek positive sides . I slowly began to love my father and encouraged myself to study hard. And learned different languages from my grandmother and  courses with the support of her and dad .Although, my chilhood has been replaced with problems instead of fun, I chose not to loose my dreams and goals due to issues those I would consider as minor one day. Also, my father started to support me in terms of Education after the change of my attitude towards him.I attended different language courses which are the keys of my current success . And within 5 years, I became very fluent in English .I really wanted to show my ability . Unfortunately, I lived in a small village and none , even teachers did not pay attention to my ability. But, I began to teach English to  young children for free in order to change their mind in terms of education and also to widen my own horizon collaborating with others.The course which has begun with only two girls became wider day -by- day. Many parents in my village gave up the idea that Education is unnecessary which appeared under the influence of Russian governance over Uzbeks. Today in Uzbekistan,people's insights about higher Education changed into absolutely positive way. Now they are implementing millions of funds for their education. And the reverse was true for the life in 2000s .Of course, in spite of the fact that, I could not change whole negative theory in Uzbekistan, I could release positive influence among people of my village, teaching youth, and contributing their academic succes and well performance at schools. Even some of my students were recently admitted to the one of the prestigious schools in Uzbekistan which are specialised for English. I am so proud of them , I could be a part of positive changes in many people's minds, lives, contributing their educational development.

Hospital. Every seat is full of people holding babies, crying children, and exhausted doctors after working a 10-hour shift. It is too noisy. However, nothing could distract me from thinking about my six-month-old daughter, who is sleeping in her father's hands vivaciously with subconscious smiles, even without knowing about her illness. I looked at her face spontaneously, and she smiled again in her deep sleep. It had been 15 days since my daughter experienced the flu. Of course, the flu may seem like a simple illness, but it is a great challenge for a baby who doesn't even know if she exists or not. Besides, I don't know why, but my second daughter was born weak and had super tendency to become ill. As I was thinking about my second daughter, I relived my firstborn daughter and leaned forward to my husband whispering, "Can you call mother and ask if our daughter is OKAY?" He said, "She is okay; do not worry. I've phoned them". I know that she doesn't make a noise because she is very sensible, although she is only 4 years old. The sudden calling of my name woke me up from these thoughts. It was our turn to see the doctor. The doctor saw the chest X-ray of my daughter. I was worried about a terrifying change in his face. He shouted that we should operate on her immediately; otherwise, she might die. I was completely shocked. There were beads of perspiration on my husband's face. "Unfortunately, the surgeon is from another country, and he should be financially supported to come sooner. Otherwise, you cannot go and operate in a day," the doctor said. I was somehow relieved. "You also need to have $5,000 for the operation," the doctor added. I looked at my husband desperately. He said that he would try his best to bring money. As soon as we went out of the room, he went looking for money. I was crying and gazing at my daughter's face. At the end of the day, my husband came to the hospital with $3,000 and asked the doctor if he could give the rest of the money after the operation. "Undoubtedly, you could do it if a surgeon lived here, but now I am afraid that it's impossible." It was like, "Wait for your daughter's death." Have you ever remained in such a hopeless condition that you could not do anything, even if you wanted it to change so much? The only thing I was thinking about was ways to bring the doctor. I felt completely hopeless and began crying saying, "Does money really matter? My daughter is dying." The doctor just remained silent and went out. After a few hours, my chubby-faced daughter stopped breathing. I cannot remember how I arrived home. All I was thinking about was my daughter. I didn't believe that I really lost my daughter. My four-year-old daughter was afraid of seeing her parents in this miserable condition and hardly came and hugged me as she hadn't seen me for 2 days. I just threw her. She was so intimidated that she began crying. Both my mother-in-law and daughter were unaware of my daughter's death, so my husband hardly explained it to them. Having stopped crying, my daughter brought a big bathroom towel to her father and wiped his tears, but she didn't approach me. My husband hugged her tightly. It was the third week since my daughter's death. Losing her made me really depressed. As usual, I had slept crying for hours near my daughter's bed. But it was a man's voice that woke me up in front of the graveyard gate. When I realized I was near a graveyard, I felt extremely petrified. I had sleepwalked and came to the graveyard at about 3 o'clock. It was terrible to see countless graves and a roughly-faced man in a misty and dark night after waking up suddenly because of the abrupt voice of a man. He was not so shocked; maybe it wasn't the first time for him to see a woman in the graveyard at midnight. Having known who I am, he asked for my husband's number and called him asking to take me home. The next day was terrible for me because I became ill after I had walked barefoot and bareheaded on a bitter winter night. Until that day, I was depressed and couldn't think carefully about anything. It was my daughter who always looked after me and revived me by making me think about life. I realized that I still have my child, who cannot grow up without my care and aid, and family members who always love and appreciate me. That winter, I lost my daughter but found the reason for resurrecting at the same time. I also witnessed that every event that happens in our lives, whether good or bad, has a lesson to teach. Mine too. I learned not to feel overstressed in any condition, to appreciate what I have, and to never lose hope for the future. I thanked God, and He gave me the chance to be a mother twice again. This condition also had a positive effect on my firstborn daughter. When she realized that she had lost her sister due to the lack of experts, she wanted to be a doctor, not out of exigency but with great longing. Now, I have all the things I've prayed for in my life!

Sasi Krishnasamy is a well-known spiritual guru, social activist, and the founder of the Ayngaran Foundation in Palani, Dindigul district, the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was born on January 22nd, 1984 to Mr. Krishnasamy and Mrs. Nageshwari in the Palani village, and at the age of 5, they moved to Coimbatore City. He completed his schooling and higher education in Coimbatore and worked for a private company in the jewelry industry until . He married Mrs. Gokila sasikrishna in September 2009 and has a daughter and son named Sowmiya Sasikrishna and Gowtham Sasikrishna. He faced a tragic loss of his father in 2010, which led him to seek spiritual guidance and solace. He studied various spiritual practices and disciplines and discovered that he had a natural talent for teaching others about mindfulness and self-awareness. He started the Ayngaran Foundation on September 14, 2020 with the vision of creating a self-reliant and sustainable society through various initiatives such as education, agriculture, health, environment, animal welfare, sports, and culture. He has also written several books on spirituality, such as Akshya Dharma Success Story- Ayngaran Foundation, which has inspired many readers. He has been featured in various media outlets such as Business Connect Magazine India, Times of Chennai, OpenPR.com, Top Markets News, Florida Recorder, Great Companies, etc. for his achievements and contributions. He is also the founder of Bodhivanam Agro farms private limited, Ayngaran Foundation USA, and Bodhipedia . He has organized and participated in various events such as Akshya Dharma program for Deepavali festival, Volleyball Sports Meet at Kerala, etc. to promote social harmony and wellness. Sasi Krishnasamy is a success story of a man who overcame personal challenges and transformed his life with spirituality and service. He is a role model for many people who aspire to make a positive difference in the world.🙌

Inspiration may boost our creativity and change our life. Inspiration is an unexpected rush of creativity that leads to new ideas and solutions. It ignites imagination and motivates us to attain our biggest aspirations. Philosophers, artists, and scientists have investigated these mysterious phenomena. Inspiration's Complexity Inspiration comes in many forms and unexpected locations. It affects every area of human existence throughout cultures and societies. Inspiration fuels advancement in the arts, sciences and personal and social transformation. Inspiration in Art (1.1) Inspiration rules art. It fuels creativity, creating stunning works that capture and move us. The spark fuels the creative process, turning a blank canvas into a colorful, textured masterpiece. Subsection 1.2: Literature's Inspiration Inspiration shapes stories and people in literature. The spark inspires authors to build rich stories and fascinating universes. A delayed train ride inspired J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. The writer's muse whispers in their ear and gives their words life. Subsection 1.3: Music's Inspiration Inspiration also drives the music. The catalyst turns introductory notes into moving melodies and words. Beethoven's nature-inspired symphonies still thrill audiences decades later. Composers are guided by an invisible hand. Subsection 1.4: Science Needs Inspiration Inspiration matters even in science. It drives breakthroughs and inventions. Sir Isaac Newton's apple-induced gravity discovery shows how inspiration may lead to scientific achievements. Curious scientists question, investigate, and invent. Inspiration Psychology Understanding inspiration's psychology helps reveal how it affects our ideas and behaviors. Inspiration Science (2.1) Inspiration is a complicated psychological process. It requires a quick cognitive change that expands our horizons. Inspiration transforms ideas into novel solutions. It allows us to think creatively and view things differently. 2.2: Inspiration vs. Motivation Inspiration and motivation are related yet separate. Motivation drives us toward specific goals. Fuel helps us overcome challenges and endure. Inspiration comes from inside, ignited by passion or interest. 3: Inspiring Inspiration might occur suddenly, but we can foster it daily. Creating an inspiring atmosphere and adopting certain behaviors might help us have those unforgettable moments of insight and creativity. Subsection 3.1: Nature Inspiration Nature's beauty and complex patterns inspire. Nature inspires creativity, innovation, and new viewpoints. Nature has a way of touching our spirits and stimulating our ideas. It encourages artists, authors, and creatives with its beauty and wonder. 3.2: Inspiring Others Diversity inspires innovation. It fosters empathy and understanding by appreciating other views. The rich tapestry of cultural traditions, the inspiring stories of people who have overcome hardship, and the inventive ideas and practices of many communities inspire people and cultures. They challenge our beliefs and broaden our worldview. Finding Inspiration Everyday Daily life may inspire. Staying open to the world and finding significance in the mundane is crucial. The beauty and wonder of everyday life may inspire us, whether it's a cup of coffee, a child's giggle, or the sunset. Mindfulness and presence help us notice and be inspired by these times. 4: Inspiration's Effect Inspiration transforms people and society. Inspiration and Self-Development Inspiration can boost self-improvement. It can inspire self-improvement and excellence. Inspiring others can help us grow. It encourages us to dream big and attain our potential. 4.2: Leadership and Business Inspiration Leadership and business require inspiration. Inspirational leaders inspire their people to perform well, creating a good and productive workplace. Companies that draw inspiration from their goal and values may generate unique goods and services that customers love. The hidden element may make a decent leader or company outstanding and boost growth. Subsection 4.3: Inspiration as Social Change Catalyst Inspiration also changes society. It may fuel social movements and humanitarian initiatives and motivate people to improve the world. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Civil Rights Movement speeches and Malala Yousafzai's fight for girls' education were inspired. It inspires us to fight for our beliefs and change the world. Inspiration Lasts Inspiration sparks creativity, innovation, and life change. Push may expand our horizons in art, literature, music, science, and life. Understanding and using inspiration may improve our lives and the planet. Inspiration comes from nature's beauty, people's tales, art, literature, music, and science and technology's breakthroughs. It reminds us of beauty, wonder, and promise. It's a call to explore, create, invent, push limits, and achieve greatness.

Sasi Krishnasamy is a well-known spiritual guru and mindfulness teacher who has helped countless individuals find inner peace and happiness.He is also the founder of the Ayngaran Foundation, a spiritual non profit organisation that has been providing aid to over 50,000 needy people in Tamil Nadu amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Sasi Krishnasamy was born and raised in India, where spirituality is deeply ingrained in the culture. However, he initially pursued a career in the IT industry and worked for several years before experiencing a personal tragedy. This event forced him to reevaluate his priorities in life and led him to explore spirituality and meditation as a way to find solace and inner peace. Sasi Krishnasamy soon discovered that he had a natural talent for teaching others about mindfulness and self-awareness. He began studying various spiritual practices and disciplines, and soon became a sought-after teacher and guide. Over the years, Sasi Krishnasamy has helped thousands of individuals find inner peace and overcome life's challenges. He has developed several popular programs and courses, including his "Seven Steps to Mindfulness" program, which has been praised for its effectiveness and simplicity. Sasi Krishnasamy's teachings are rooted in the idea that true happiness and fulfilment come from within. He believes that by developing a deep sense of self-awareness and mindfulness, individuals can overcome any challenge and live a more fulfilling life. Sasi Krishnasamy's impact on the spiritual community has been significant, and his teachings have helped countless individuals find inner peace and happiness. He has been invited to speak at various international events and conferences and has gained a reputation as a compassionate and insightful teacher

Gotham Sasikrishna is the son of Sasi Krishnasamy, who is a well-known spiritual guru and social activist and the founder of the Ayngaran Foundation in Palani, Dindigul District in Tamil Nadu .He has a sister named Sowmiya Sasikrishna and his mother is Gokila Sasikrishna.He also seems to be interested in badminton, as he has participated in some tournaments with his partner Raj Saran

It was a chilly morning in late August. “Today is the day,” I thought, as I parked my bicycle in its usual spot. There wasn't a sound to be heard in the area, other than the occasional chirp of a bird, awake for the hunt. As the sun rose above the horizon, numerous shadows cast across the cement apron of the Rockcliffe airport. Planes. The aircraft, each different in complexion, lined the sides of the ramp, yearning for the skies. I couldn't help feeling a surge of excitement, envisioning what lay ahead. The adventure was just beginning. I made my way around the side of the tiny, wooden building with my flight bag in hand. The light morning breeze ruffled my hair. I grimaced. “Looks like it'll be a windy day,” I thought to myself, knowing the wind was bound to pick up. I made my way up the creaky steps and into the flight club where my instructor would inspect my final flight plan. I took a seat on the old vinyl couch in the pilot's lounge. The next hour was spent reviewing my flight plan and ensuring everything was in order. After a grueling wait, my instructor walked in. Greg, a seasoned pilot and senior flight instructor, would sign me out for my first cross-country flight. I greeted him and sheepishly handed over my planning sheets. I watched with anticipation as he looked over the documents, nodding approval after every step. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he said, “Alright, let's get you a plane and you're good to go”. We walked down the hallway to the dispatch station where I was assigned a Cessna 172, fresh out of inspection. After grabbing my equipment, I hurriedly exited the building in the direction of my aircraft to perform the walk around; an essential step to ensure the security of an aircraft. The inspection went smoothly, as expected, and I was ready to go. With my survival kit loaded and my navigation charts ready, I performed my final startup checks. With a twist of a key, the old Lycoming engine roared to life. I taxied to the end of the runway. My Cessna was ready to fly and so was I. Full power. The engine roared like a lion as we barrelled down the runway. I could feel every bump in the pavement and every instability in the air. 55 knots. As I'd practiced many times before, I pulled back on the yoke. We were airborne. The aircraft climbed through the mid-morning sky as it drew further away from the world below. After communicating my departure route with local traffic, I switched to terminal frequency and continued my climb. I reached 8000 feet and the controller cleared me on course to Kingston. I banked the aircraft to the left, set my heading and started my timer. The journey had begun. I couldn't help but gaze out my window at the glimmering water of the Frontenac lakes beneath me. Suddenly, I realized I was flying alone with the grandeur of the Canadian wilderness stretching for miles in every direction. Most would feel terror. I felt alive. I had never been more confident in my abilities. An overwhelming feeling of happiness overtook me as I realized I'd found my second home – My calling. After an hour, the endless forest gave way to a large lake on the horizon. Lake Ontario. I could see the city of Kingston along the shore of the lake. I started my descent. As I inched lower, I could see the shadow cast by the aircraft glistening on the lake's surface. I was one with the machine. Its behavior was intertwined with mine. Suddenly, a violent gust of wind struck the airplane and it veered abruptly to the left. I corrected quickly, my heart pounding in my chest. The wind had increased significantly. I knew it would be a challenge to get the plane on the ground. The flight service operator gave me a runway to land. I started my approach over Lake Ontario. The glistening turquoise water below looked peaceful, unaware of the buffeting winds aloft. I turned onto the base leg and started my approach into the airport. Sweat pearled down my face as I maneuvered the old aircraft onto final approach. Full flaps. The runway was dead ahead. The airport was getting closer every second. A nasty crosswind forced me to tilt the wings into the wind to maintain my course. Five hundred feet. We would be touching down within thirty seconds. I continued my approach into the inner-city airport with determination. Fifty feet. I could see the runway numbers just ahead. “It's now or never,” I thought. Moments before the wheels touched the ground, I pulled back gently on the yoke and put the aircraft into a flare. The maneuver was one I'd practiced. It allowed me to bleed off the extra speed. I felt the plane descend until the squeak of the tires assured me that the aircraft was on the ground. I applied the brakes and exited onto the nearest taxiway. “What a flight,” I thought to myself. I closed my eyes. Pandemic. Shutdown. Lockdown. Mask Up. Isolate yourself. But I persisted. A dream come true. A licensed pilot at last.

Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Sarah. She had always dreamed of becoming a successful businesswoman, but she knew it would take more than just hard work and determination to make her dream a reality. She would have to move mountains to get what she wanted. Sarah grew up in a small town where opportunities were few and far between. Her family didn't have the means to support her education or her career aspirations, so she had to figure out a way to make it on her own. She worked tirelessly at her part-time job, saving every penny she could, and studying business in her spare time. Despite her hard work and dedication, Sarah faced many obstacles on her journey. She was constantly told that she couldn't do it, that she wasn't smart enough or talented enough to make it in the business world. But Sarah refused to let anyone's negativity bring her down. The first mountain Sarah had to move was getting a college education. Her family couldn't afford to send her to college, and she didn't have the grades or test scores to qualify for scholarships. But Sarah was determined. She took out student loans, worked multiple jobs, and even took classes at night to make it happen. It was a grueling and difficult process, but Sarah finally graduated with a degree in business. Next, Sarah had to find a job in her field. She applied to countless companies, but was met with rejection after rejection. She was told that she was overqualified, underqualified, or just not the right fit. But Sarah didn't give up. She took on any job she could find, from waiting tables to working in retail, all the while networking and building connections in the business world. Finally, Sarah landed an entry-level position at a small marketing firm. She worked tirelessly, going above and beyond her job duties, and quickly moved up the ranks. But even with her success, Sarah still felt like she wasn't reaching her full potential. She knew she had bigger ideas and bigger plans, but she didn't know how to make them happen. That's when Sarah decided to start her own business. It was a daunting task, and many of her friends and family told her she was crazy for even considering it. But Sarah was determined. She spent every spare moment researching and planning, and finally, she had a solid business plan in place. The next mountain Sarah had to move was finding funding for her business. She applied for loans, but was denied again and again. Banks and investors didn't believe in her idea or her ability to run a successful business. But Sarah didn't let that stop her. She reached out to her network, and eventually, she found a group of investors who believed in her vision. With funding secured, Sarah was finally able to launch her business. It wasn't easy, and there were many times when she wanted to give up. But Sarah's determination and hard work paid off. Her business was a success, and it quickly grew into a thriving company. Years went by and Sarah's company had become one of the most successful in the industry. She had finally accomplished her dream and had moved all the mountains that stood in her way. But Sarah didn't rest on her laurels. She knew that there were always more mountains to move, and she was ready for whatever challenges came her way. Sarah's story is an inspiration to many, proving that with hard work, determination and a never give up attitude, anyone can move mountains and achieve their dreams.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? “Obstacles are designed to teach us, not to break us.” My physics teacher Kakai's motto has been reminding me about his strength and knowledge about life and study. I have always appreciated this phrase and whenever I failed, I always repeated it within. However, before his arrival at our school, I was losing my hope. I come from Uzbekistan where the President of the country Shavkat Mirziyoyev, established Presidential Schools in 2019 for youth in order to produce workforces who can compete with the other staff worldwide. Students were selected by testing their knowledge about mathematics, English, critical and logical thinking. As the education system was based in Cambridge there were several challenges for me to get used to having some insufficient results. Question types were strange and answering them in English was agonizing. My results were falling consecutively. Then one day, an international physics teacher arrived. He was Kakai Wasula which then became one of my best friends who is always with me when I feel depressed. The main point in which he helped me was changing my mind about failure. Before his advice, whenever I get low results, I used to get depressed instead of learning from my mistakes. However, after a talk with him, I changed up my mind. After that time, I started looking at my mistakes from the bright side. Instead of being upset, I tried to master the questions that I had made mistakes. Then my results started to show an increase in my worldview. He has been telling me that failing is part of success and plays a good role in life. This golden phrase was my motto if I do something wrong. After a while, there was a big test at school and all the students were stressed because it was the Educational Agency of Uzbekistan itself taking it. The test was the most serious one, as its results play a vital role in my graduation marks. I went to Kakai and asked for some advice. He repeated his words: “Failure is the part of success; it is what you are going to learn tomorrow and don't forget, you are not going to fail. There is something inside you telling you that you can achieve your target. I believe!” I was so proud. Maybe Kakai was lying – there was nothing inside me shining so bright. But, after his motivations, there was a fire burning inside my heart and its sparkles were illustrated by my eyes. That was the time when I learned to be motivated and unstressful. Because I experienced how both ways, being stressed and in opposite being motivated, might have an effect on future progress. Whenever I believed myself and did the test I got high results. With these thoughts in mind, I went to the hall, where all the students were waiting for their papers to arrive. I preferred to sit in front of the camera, while the rest were arguing to sit at the backside. It was lovely to believe in yourself and to know that at least a person believes in you. When the papers arrived, I happily turned the page and saw an easy problem there. I was passionate to finish the test with the best result and justify the confidence of all who believed in me. The test was over and the results were out. I started to search for my name from the bottom so my happiness will be greater if I find myself at the top. There my name was! At the top of the page! Just as Kakai told me, failures made me stronger than before. It was part of my success. From that time on, I get happy when I face some challenges or failures that now I can learn something new.

I always thought of myself as being an open-minded person. Don't we all like to believe we were blessed or simply brought up with good values, which therefore established ourselves as virtuous people? It's the way humans are. But following whose rules is my supposedly open mindedness considered to be open? Mine? As a child, my report cards' soaring numbers, which lit up my parents' eyes and, let's be honest, mine too, every end of semester, were never obtained with much effort. I guess it made me think easiness in academics was a commonly shared characteristic; this simpleminded assumption is unfortunately overshadowed by an even more shameful presumption: that bad grades necessarily meant an unwillingness to work. I believe almost anyone can remember how and when they found out about the existence of COVID-19. My moment was on my way to school: I was riding the subway and reading the newspaper I had picked up just before entering the train. It was quite a small article, with a title resembling something like “An unknown virus' apparition in China”. Looking back, I am still stunned at how the subject taking up less than a page's space in the newspaper quickly became the star of its front page, second page and so on, until keeping close to half of its contents to itself. It all happened so quickly! One-digit numbers of cases became two-digits numbers, followed by the beginning of international cases, leading to the first case in Canada, where I live. Events of this kind finally ushered the world to shut down, countries by countries. How does that relate to my story? Millions of students including me had to deal with the dramatic cutdown of genuine social interaction while navigating through the perturbed waters all adults had had to someday overcome. The real difficulty for many was online schooling: filling our heads with knowledge that was sometimes staggeringly tedious, passed on from a screen that often stayed too still at times to my taste, and normality's. I saw myself become, from a student who used to nail almost every test without studying much, one who found it hard to even understand the content teachers were diffusing. I was a witness to my own fall. After handing over the last exam of that school year, I still remember the odd feeling I had. I was of course happy that at last, summer vacation had come, but... I wasn't able to walk into it with the same sentiment of gratification I had had the precedent years. I now realize it was because I wasn't truly satisfied and proud of myself: knowing I wouldn't get great scores on the exams made me feel disappointed, like I wasted months of my life. This past year, my province has let students of my age physically attend school half of the time, and learn by distant education the other half. I was thus liberated from some of the pressure I was under the year before, but I was still affected by its consequences. Participation, concentration, motivation, even finding topics of conversations with my friends had not only become harder, but problems I daily faced. Although I don't look at these consequences as wounds, I still can say that for my case, time served as healer. It took me months to be able to get back on track, but I did it! It did come at a greater cost, though, but late nights of studying do always bear fruits at the end. Today, I can for sure say that this experience taught me to be more open-minded. I cannot say that I truly understand all matters and circumstances of everyone's lives, but I do know now that grades are not only defined by one's work ethic. Numerous factors can come into play. For instance, parents' fights are greatly able to disturb both one's ability to focus and one's mental health; a family's financial situation can also be an unfavorable influence. This past school year and a half challenged me in a way that, oddly, benefitted me. I doubt I would have changed my work attitude if these difficulties had not happened to me, at least not until the inevitable moment when I would have to hit a wall, just like everyone does someday. To me, it was a reminder to not loosen up too much; a warning that life wasn't like I pictured it.

If you want to achieve any goal in your life. There are the same steps which you need to follow when baking a cake. 1) Choose a recipe. 2) Clean up the kitchen. 3) Get the ingredients ready. 4) Bake 5) Wait Now how can we implement these 5 steps in our mission? 1) Choose a recipe - First you need to find out what you truly want to do. For example, I wish to write something for my post. So the cake which I wanted to prepare is this post. 2) Clean up the kitchen - One has to be sure what to do and what not to. So I just cleaned up my mind and removed all those thoughts and emotions which were disturbing. In general, make space for the mission. 3) Get the ingredients ready - The ingredients which were required to 'bake' this post were words, thoughts, ideas, etc. 4) Bake - Just do it step by step and you will find yourself done with baking the cake. I wrote the content and posted it on my page. 5) Wait - After the cake is ready, you offer it to your family members and wait for their reaction. Just the way I am waiting now for you all to read this post and give your review. At the end, the cake is baked and the goal is achieved too. ✔ *TMI: This is what I prepared for my parents' 20th wedding anniversary.💞*

We learnt many new words in these troubled times - Pandemic, Respiratory hygiene, Quarantine, Discipline to name a few. This has been an unprecedented time in more ways than one and has taught the value of life to our human race, which seemed to have been forgotten in the mad materialistic rush. This pandemic unfolded when some news of this strange virus and disease was reported in media. I am not a news buff so news catches me unawares. I am normally immune to sensational news. Whenever such sensational news is able to catch my attention, I prefer to hear from my friends and fraternity. It is surprising to note what happens next --- I forget it. I was absolutely unaware of the magnitude of the problem. Every community takes pride in its genes and so the word spread that since India is home to several bacteria, viruses so we would not be afflicted since we have a lower level of societal hygiene based on our lifestyle and norms so we develop immunity since childhood. The government imposed a lock-down after Janta curfew i.e. curfew imposed by the common man (junta). Lock-down was not known to Indians yet. Indians are an exuberant lot like the rest of humanity. It is so difficult to chain them to their homes. Everybody subscribed to news channels to understand the seriousness of the problem. Children were restrained to their homes i.e. no colleges, no schools & no socialising. Initially though the kids were a little pleased but it dawned to them that a new normal was taking shape. A fear psychosis took hold of all of us. Lots of my friends advised us to stock food fearing doomsday. My wife however trusted the resilience of the community. The first day after lockdown was scary for me as people were scrambling for supplies. Now everything needed to be sanitized. It was an extensive activity and a lot of activities shifted back home. I was to iron the clothes and decided that not all clothes needed to be ironed. The domestic help was sent on paid leave. I helped with the house-hold chores but it was largely my wife who managed the show. Children demanded variety in food which we used to source from the restaurants & other eateries. My wife took up the challenge of dishing out tasty and aesthetic looking dishes to meet my children's culinary appetite. I could not help appreciate my wife's resolve and my children's belief which resulted in the culinary fest that I enjoyed as much as them. Luckily for my family, I was summoned to office within one week of the lockdown to brain-storm how we could contribute to fight Coronavirus. We not for once broke the lockdown rules which were enforced by our children. After several rounds of brain-storming, we started to develop a disinfection machine for sanitizing indoor spaces with minimal disinfectant and maximum spread. We got our act together and prepared hand sanitizers using WHO instructions for local community, security services, hospital, own teams & the district administration due to its shortage. We also made automatic hand-sanitizer dispenser, foot pedal dispensers and foot pedal operated water tap opener, soap dispenser & lifts touch-less also. We were contributing 12-18 hours each day during lockdown. All the activities were for our own staff and community at large and free of cost. The societal content of the work re-invigorated our team volunteers to do beyond duty's call and deliver. We were required to travel at the height of the spread so the team started looking at each-other about who would go. It felt like suicide but I felt obliged to go and so others joined in too. We took PPE kits also along in view of the scare. Luckily we did not wear the PPE kits we would have looked ridiculous indeed. In between a team mate tested Corona positive and all of us were sent for testing and quarantined. Those 5 days were indeed bliss considering we had not had much rest for over 3 months. The scare of the report however made all of us pray that we return to normal which fortunately happened. The experience has been an eye-opener and taught us that nature and god is all-pervading and powerful. A tiny creation in the form of a virus can bring humanity & the most powerful of nations on their knees. I asked our grand seniors if they ever heard or experienced anything similar and they vehemently said “No”. This corona virus has taught us to be in synch with nature and connected us with our family & friends as - Work is optional, Life isn't as long as you live. It has opened my eyes on the blatant consumerism that we are following as there are only a few essential things that we need to survive and thrive. Things will get better as day always follows a dark night but such an experience must have brought different learnings for each one of us based on our thought process and value system which we will surely carry with us till the end …… of our lives as humanity will continue to live and learn.