A hard worker, ever ready to learn and be the best possible version of himself.
Raj (name changed) comes from the wondrous state of Rajasthan, a place that’s known for its savoury, lip-smacking mirchi vada, besan ki barfi, and other luscious local dishes.
Growing up, Raj lived in numerous states across India, making his childhood unique and sometimes, bittersweet. He is currently 22 years old and is pursuing his BTech from Lovely Professional University.
The friendships we’ve made during our college days sometimes end up being the ones that we hold dear to ourselves for as long as we can. Raj mentions that he enjoys spending time with his friends from his university, whether it’s studying or listening to music together.
“I was struggling with my academics. I could not stay consistent and I was constantly frustrated about it. It felt like I was stuck in an endless cycle.”
The pressure of doing well in academics is one which most students of the past, and of today’s time have experienced. The burden of the time and energy that our academics demand is not an easy weight to carry.
Raj experienced this struggle with his studies, and he found himself overthinking whether he could achieve what he wanted to.
“I was overthinking everything, and things always felt bigger in my head than they really were. Because of this, I found it difficult to make deep, long-lasting friendships with anyone.”
Overthinking sometimes leads to us creating problems out of ones that didn’t exist in the first place. It makes you worry constantly, and you feel like you’re trapped in a whirlwind of your own thoughts.
“I knew I needed counseling for a couple of reasons. I was having a lot of trouble managing my emotions. I heard about YourDOST through my college and decided to give it a shot.”
Raj knew that things would get better if he worked hard for it. His counselor, Mr. Chitrang Singh, guided him through his journey of self-improvement.
“I looked at Mr.Chitrang as if he were my elder brother who could understand me very well. He gave me simple strategies to follow which helped me manage my emotions better.”
Dipendra mentions that Mr. Chitrang gave him techniques that were very helpful and simple to follow. These included meditation, journaling, and other stress management activities.
Sometimes, instead of facing our challenges head-on, we try to avoid or run away from them. While this might feel relieving for a little while, it is merely like a band-aid which doesn’t truly solve the problem.
Raj mentions that he had a pattern of running away from them. In his counseling sessions, he learnt that this was a defence mechanism he had and that he must get rid of it if he wanted to grow more.
“Mr. Chitrang helped me accept my emotions. He made me realize the importance of taking small steps to get better, and eventually, I got out of the loop of frustration I was feeling.”
Raj found himself feeling a lot more confident with his studies. He was motivated, by his counselor, to be consistent with his practices and has never regretted putting in the work.
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or around it.”
Michael Jordan
Raj has chosen to overcome these obstacles in life, and the fruit of his work has grown beautifully. He mentions that he does not overthink as much as he used to and that he feels confident in every aspect of his life.
He is very grateful to his counselor, Mr Chitrang, for helping him believe in his true potential, and the fact that he can achieve anything he puts his mind to.
Raj has grown into a more resilient, responsible adult and we could not be more proud of him. He rates himself a 3.5 out of 5 in terms of feeling better after beginning counseling, and believes that he has come a long way!
Raj’s Warrior Tips:
1.”You have the power to overcome anything if you put your mind to it. You need to be strong and believe in yourself.”
2.“Instead of running away from your feelings, try to be patient with yourself and explore them. It will help you learn more about yourself.”
