Neuroplasticity, a concept in neuroscience, refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. When it comes to learning from mistakes, every time we “mess up”, our brain goes through a process of rewiring.

In the adolescent years, the brain undergoes significant changes, particularly in the prefrontal cortex – the area responsible for decision-making, problem-solving, and social interactions – probably why we “mess up” so much. And, as we teenagers navigate this huge mess, our brains are highly responsive to new experiences, learning, and emotional development, to avoid the said “mess” in the adult years.

Traditionally, being a teenager is a sliver of overlap between what a child can’t do and what an adult can’t do. But the above very scientific reason opens a new door: what a teenager CAN do. And that, my friends, is “mess up”. It is a fundamental opportunity to shape and mould our lives in ways that set the stage for the future.

Here are some ways to get you started:

Embracing Independence
Craft your own superhero story – cape optional
One of the scariest yet most liberating gifts of our teenage years is the gradual inheritance of independence. It’s a time when making decisions for ourselves seem less embarrassing than relying on our parents to dictate our lives. These choices, however overwhelming, can also be so liberating. Remember, it is okay to make mistakes, provided you learn from them.
A little tip: When choosing your narrative, do not try to be someone else.

Building Relationships
Choosing the supporting characters
As you change, so does the world around you. It is usually in this season when challenges that make-or-break relationships show themselves. Friends are the pillars of support that will get you through these years, so keep them close and keep them safe. Surround yourself with people who understand and value you.
Another little tip: Friendships and relationships don’t have to be inversely proportional.

Putting Safety First
Superheroes wear suits, too!
Teenage years will see you exposed to many, many new things – from driving to drugs. The skill here is to differentiate between “slay” and “stop”. Do not ever do anything you are not fully comfortable with, and don’t ever hesitate to ask for help should you need it. Remember, some mistakes are not worth making.

Living our best life requires a willingness to take charge. So, at the end of the day, it really is up to you — it is up to you how you want to live your life!

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For the past year and a half, I’ve focused on improvement rather than dwelling on setbacks. But yesterday was different. A classmate sitting next to me tried to console me, reminding me that I could improve. My teacher also came over, offering the warmest hug and reassuring words. She reminded me of my past successes and assured me that she believed in my efforts, even when I didn’t believe in myself.

At that moment, it was hard to see the positives. But my classmates were understanding and supportive, creating a comfortable environment for me. As the day progressed, my chest and head ached from crying, and I wanted to go home.

However, my coordinator insisted I stay, a decision I now appreciate because it taught me resilience.

Later, I also received my literature grades. Holding the paper for five minutes, I hesitated to look. When I finally did, I saw that I had scored well. This boosted my confidence and transformed my mood from grumpy to happy. I realized how lucky I am to have such supportive teachers and classmates.

Reflecting on the day, I see how everyone told me, “You’ll do better next time; don’t worry.” It’s funny now to think about how much I cried. Not a single person said anything negative, so why did I let it affect me so deeply? This incident taught me to look for the positives even in the worst situations.

And you know what? I’m going to remember this next time I face a challenge.

Because if I can survive a bad grade and come out laughing, I can handle anything life throws my way. So, here’s to embracing setbacks with a smile and a laugh – and maybe a little less crying next time!

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In a world often fixated on external appearances, the mantra “You are beautiful” echoes with a resonance that transcends physicality. It is a sentiment that speaks volumes, urging us to delve deeper beyond the surface, to discover the unique allure within each individual.

Beauty isn’t merely skin-deep; it’s an intricate tapestry of diverse qualities like kindness, intelligence, boldness, and empathy, which form the essence of a person. Although society’s standards often confine beauty to a narrow scale. But the truth is, beauty knows no bounds, flourishing in the authenticity and individuality of every soul.

This journey towards embracing one’s beauty isn’t easy. It requires breaking free from the shackles of comparison and societal pressures. It demands fostering an inner self-nurturing mindset that cultivates contentment within.

“You are beautiful” sums up a revolution — a call to rewrite the narrative of beauty, placing emphasis on the richness of character, depth of emotions, and the uniqueness of every individual. It invites us to redefine beauty not as a fixed concept, but as dynamic, inclusive and an empowering face.

So the next time you hear these words, whether whispered or shared with another, embrace them not just as a compliment, but as a profound truth that resonates within. For in this simple phrase lies the power to redefine beauty and inspire the world where everyone feels undeniably beautiful themselves.

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However, the mindset of these American Dreamers has now shifted. To Indians, the U.S. is now associated with school shootings, racism, protests, crimes, and other negative aspects. Today, parents think twice before sending their children to the U.S. for higher education or job opportunities, regardless of their financial means. The number of Indian dreamers from 24 years ago has significantly dwindled to just a few thousand individuals.

Indian parents now prefer to educate their children in India, and this decision is indeed beneficial. It not only provides economic flexibility for parents and students but also helps retain the immense talent that the country has lost to the United States. While some may argue about the lack of opportunities and intense competition in India, consider this: would you rather live in a country with prevalent racism and discrimination or reside in a truly diverse nation with a varied work culture and growing opportunities?

As of 19 March 2024, nine Indians have lost their lives in the U.S., with one severely injured in an attempted robbery. Most of these victims were students; some murdered and others allegedly succumbing to hypothermia. Last year, a 23-year-old student named Jaahnavi Kandula from Northwestern University was killed by U.S. police officer, Kevin Dave, in Washington, when his car hit her at 120 mph. In later released footage, it was revealed that Officer Dave found the incident amusing and even remarked, “Just write a check.” Interestingly, in February this year, it was determined that he would not be charged due to a “lack of evidence”.

Reports indicate that the U.S. remains the preferred destination for Indian students pursuing higher education, with a staggering 35% increase in their numbers in 2023. However, it is important to note that while the U.S. is not inherently unwelcoming to Indians, instances of racism and discrimination have been experienced by not only Indians but also individuals from various ethnic backgrounds such as Native Americans, Hispanics, Blacks, South East Asians, and more.

It is crucial to recognize that these issues are not exclusive to the U.S., as racism exists worldwide, including in India, towards foreign tourists and residents. The severity of these problems escalates when racism transforms into hate crimes, murder, or even genocide. Unfortunately, the U.S. government has not wholeheartedly and comprehensively addressed these concerns. In many cases, punishments are not adequately enforced, and local police departments often overlook such incidents. When contemplating studying or working in the United States, it is essential to acknowledge these challenges. There is a high crime rate, but it is also the top choice for Indian and international students and workers from diverse backgrounds. These obstacles pose significant hurdles for those already present in the country.

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I know people who think travelling is pointless. People who think it would be a waste of time and money to travel halfway across the world to see things that can be looked up within seconds on the internet. And I passionately disagree. Maybe you can see the Colosseum on Google. But can you experience it? Can you walk within its massive structure, feel the crumbling bricks, close your eyes and hear the clashes of swords and cries of the gladiators who once filled the place? Maybe you can see the Eiffel Tower in pictures. But unless you go there, will you be able to crane your neck and marvel at it? Climb the steps and admire buildings, people and problems getting smaller, be encased in the glittering lighting? Have dinner at the top as you observe the Paris nightlife come alive?

All of us know it is the journey that matters more than the destination. The harder the journey is, the sweeter the experience of your destination. I trekked seven kilometres to see the Thajiwas glacier in Kashmir, along the lushest greenery I have ever seen, which masked the deadliness of the steep and narrow paths. But everything was worth it when I glimpsed the breathtaking view in front of me — a pure sheet of snow on the side of a mountain in the middle of May, and a crystal-clear river flowing beneath it. Unless you have trekked those treacherous paths, lost your footing and your way, and finally reached the place, out of breath, your throat parched and face dripping with perspiration, you will be unable to experience and internalise the beauty around you fully.

Cheating will get you good marks. But it cannot give you the satisfaction and pride that hard work can give. Travelling is just like that. You can see the entire world on your computer screen. But you cannot live it.

So pack your bags, get out of the house, and explore. Go, experience what it feels like to be part of something bigger than yourself.

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• Sacrificing less productive activities and distractions to make effective use of time.
• Sacrificing your unhealthy habits to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
• Sacrificing your shyness and discomfort to make new friends and actively participate in various activities.
• Sacrificing extra-curricular activities and leisure time to prepare during examination time.
• Sacrificing your comforts and insecurities to embrace challenges and develop new skills and habits.
• Sacrificing non-eco-friendly habits to sustain and protect the environment.
• Sacrificing social media and screen time to spend quality time with family.
• Sacrificing your personal convenience and needs to help someone who may need it more than you.

These sacrifices align with our daily lives and can help us achieve academic success and lead to our personal development. So, dear friends, I wish you luck as you embark on the journey of making sacrifices to unveil a better version of yourself.

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Though I had a pretty good idea about the exam, walking the path and being in the game was a whole new experience for me. Brushing aside my nerves, I started working on my speed of attempting the questions followed by enhancing my accuracy. Some of the good habits I picked up on the way were reading the newspapers every day and being aware and informed about my surroundings, and developing the interest to learn and explore new subjects, which I realised when I had exhausted all the resources provided by the Academy. By giving mock tests, my reading speed and analytical skills improved by leaps and bounds. With the passage of time, I could make out the difference in my level of understanding and comprehension.

On the psychological aspect, I was anxious in the beginning. A few months into the preparation, days flew by so fast that there was no time to comprehend my emotions. In November, with one month left for the big exam, I cut myself off from the outside world, fully engaged in getting myself ready to gain entry to my dream university, the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. It was difficult to say no to social gatherings and events, but I knew the pain of discipline would always be worth it.

Fast forward to the present, I have achieved what I had aimed for and had been so passionate about, with hard work, discipline and dedication. The constant support of my parents, teachers, friends and the institution helped me achieve this endeavour. I cannot but remember my mentor, Ms Hema Raman, who had been there for me all along. This examination has taught me to be resilient and has shaped me to be a better person. One important life lesson I have learnt from this experience is that motivation fades away over a period of time; it is discipline that helps you keep moving forward and takes you where you want to be.

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If you can do the same thing a little later on with more dedication, commitment, quality and a clearer mindset, why not put it on the backburner? Why sacrifice something that is even more important for you right now for something that could be done in a better way, later on? Why put your future on hold for something that you aren’t even sure you want as your future? Take a breather. Count till a thousand. You now have all the time in the world. Take your time, weigh your options, interests, priorities. Get back to the grind, and give it your all.

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Nobody is superior, nobody is inferior and neither equal. We all are simply incomparable and unique. I wonder why people have such a queer tendency of trying to portray a character of themselves whom they really are not. Reading success stories, we try to adopt qualities of others just to become successful and to prove ourselves.

Dreams do come true for those who have the courage to believe in them. God created all of us with unique qualities. He didn’t create us to be perfect. We should appreciate our uniqueness and nurture it. Believe me, those different talents of ours will create success stories one day. All great people with huge wealth, magnificent empires, and extraordinary ideology have been successful because they never followed anyone; instead, they believed in their uniqueness. We must have the courage to dream and passion to work.

By obscuring our true emotions with fake expressions, dreaming about a better life, and trying to satisfy others, we are probably exploiting ourselves. Instead of being somebody else, try to be yourself because you are meant to be simply unique. The world needs the real you. Stop trying to become like others by copying them; just be yourself because you are perfect in your imperfections and different in your own little ways.

As it has been rightly said: “Being unique is better than being perfect.”

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Ever since I started college, I have been looking forward to being a ‘working woman’. The suits, the desks, the paycheck … all of this makes it look so glitz and glam. I grew up watching my father enjoy the perks of it all. But little did I know of the grind.

And there I was on 12 June 2023, in my neatly-ironed shirt, trousers, laptop in hand, and close to zero expectations. I walked into the office, and the image of a large, noisy office was replaced by a minimal set-up.

My first few days are a blur. I felt alien and stupid. The feeling of incompetency is so hurtful to a young person trying to survive in a new environment doing their best. The purpose of this internship was to be exposed to the corporate world, and boy, was I exposed. Every day, I saw new challenges. It was like jumping hurdles in a race with no visible finish line. I could not see the end!

The straw that broke the camel’s back was one day that I remember so vividly. I walked into the office with my first project completed. But the feedback I received was not even close to what I expected. It felt like I was back to day one — lost, confused. I wanted to run home as I had been away for over six months and I could not bear this environment anymore. I left early that day.

I’m not proud of what I did, but all I knew was that I needed to feel safe that day because I had hit rock bottom. From that day onwards, I set a new goal and priority. As an engineering student who had just completed second year, I decided to go back to my purpose and remind myself to be a student. My priority was college deadlines, following instructions from my professor and finishing this evaluated internship to the best of my ability.

Today, as I sit here at my desk for the last time, I feel okay. But most importantly, I feel ready to move on, which is not a bad thing. I feel accomplished that I have fulfilled my purpose in the past two months and survived it physically and mentally. I have completed a long list of firsts and an even longer list of learnings worth introspecting.

During the course, I felt emotions that I could not describe and that nobody seemed to understand. I felt lonely and isolated, but it also re-taught me how to survive alone. Having supportive family and friends gives you a sense of comfort. But what happens when they are away from you, and most importantly not on the same wavelength as you? This reminded me of the strength within — the little voice in your head — the voice that matters most. Your own thoughts, views, opinions, feelings — they’re the most valuable part of your conscience and will remain as long as you live.

This was my experience and yours may be different. It reminded me of how much I love studying biotechnology. My academic mind was in denial of this love, after it got blinded by the universally-set route of attaining degrees to get jobs and earn money. I feel blessed to have gotten this opportunity that reminded me of my purpose, my aptitude, my joy.

One day, I may look back and disagree with my current opinions. But for now, this is me signing off from a desk job and getting back to my books, microscopes and bacterial cultures for as long as life allows.

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