Much like Harry Potter navigating life at Hogwarts, our journey is full of unexpected challenges and tough times. We often wish for an easy way out, like a magic spell to fix everything. However, real life doesn’t come with shortcuts or instant solutions. Good things must be worked for and earned through effort and perseverance. This hard work not only leads to success but also brings a sense of fulfilment and joy that makes the journey worthwhile.
This is the story of Ankita, a 20-year-old engineering student from Pune. She has just finished her third-year exams and is now starting her final year while doing an internship to prepare for job placements.
Ankita comes from a loving family. She is the eldest of three siblings and is very close to her mother and loves her the most!
“My family is supportive and caring, but at times like all siblings, we also have their moments of disagreement. My father has always supported me, especially during my surgery last year. His care motivated me to get a good job so that I can support my family and fulfil their dream of a vacation together.”
Ankita loves cooking and she enjoys making food for her family and friends, often bringing homemade tiffin to college.
She is part of Katalyst India, a scholarship program for engineering girls. Through this, she learned about YourDOST, their official mental health partner.
“When I first met my counsellor, Rakshita, I was extremely nervous and depressed. I was worried about privacy and whether Rakshita would listen to me but her kind and calming manner and soothing water-like voice made me feel comfortable.”
Ankita was struggling with her mental health and wasn’t able to get to the end of it. She couldn’t talk to her parents or siblings about her problems and felt isolated from her friends as she felt nobody could understand her plight. She needed someone to talk to, which led her to seek professional help.
Rakshita taught Ankita various ways to manage her stress and improve her mental health. One helpful method was making a daily to-do list that included both academic tasks and activities for her mental health. Rakshita also recommended yoga and meditation, which Ankita found very helpful.
“Writing down my negative thoughts and tearing up the paper helped me feel lighter and more in control. As I continued with her sessions, I felt positive changes within myself and I felt happy because someone would listen to me for an hour.”
The sessions provided a safe space for her to express her feelings and get good advice.
Following Rakshita’s advice, Ankita started doing yoga and meditation. She also began reading non-fiction books, which helped her stay focused and calm. These new habits brought balance to her life that she had been missing.
“I am eternally grateful to Rakshita for her support. She is lovely and I didn’t think anyone could listen so patiently as she does. I appreciate Rakshita’s ability to listen without judging, and her ability to provide comfort during my toughest times.”
Ankita rates herself a 4.5 out of 5 in terms of feeling better. She sees improvement as a journey of small steps and is committed to working on her mental health and personal growth.
We at YourDOST believe Ankita is on her way to achieving her goals and wish her all the best in her future!
Ankita’s Warrior Tips:
1.“When feeling low or depressed, believe in yourself and start learning or doing something new to stay engaged.”
2.“Learn something new even if people may not appreciate it. It helps remove negative energy.”
