Balancing academic pressure and personal struggles can be tough, especially for students. In a place like India, where competition is intense and expectations are high, finding peace and balance can feel impossible. But sometimes, through sheer determination and hope, we find our true strength and resilience in these hard moments.
Meet Rituja (name changed), a 24-year-old PhD student at IISC Bangalore.
Originally from Rewari, Haryana, Rituja comes from a small and close-knit family with her parents, a brother, and a sister.
Rituja’s passion for studying, dedication to fitness, and creative hobbies like painting and gardening have always been her driving force.
“I’ve always been fond of studying. I can’t stay calm if I’m not studying well.”
Her dedication to academics was unwavering, but transitioning to IISC Bangalore brought new challenges.
At IISC, Rituja found herself among bright minds from all over India. She began struggling with her identity of being the best in all of her academic life.
“I was a student who never stood second in class until my bachelor’s degree. I wasn’t used to being average.”
Colleges and universities are places where students metamorphose into young adults from a child. Hence, the pressure and silent stressors that students face can affect them psychologically and create negative thoughts in their heads. However, Rituja was always the best of the best, and the sudden change in her academic position left her feeling out of place and affected her personal and professional life.
“I can’t stand second. I can’t see myself even standing second. And now, suddenly, I was no longer in the limelight.”
This realisation made her uncomfortable and accelerated the struggles she was already facing in her personal life. The pressure to perform and the lack of a supportive personal environment took a toll on Rituja. She began feeling isolated and overwhelmed.
“I saw a YourDOST poster in the hostel and saved the number, but I didn’t text them right away. One day, I broke down and cried, and that’s when I decided to reach out as it became difficult to handle things alone.”
Rituja’s journey with YourDOST began that day. The initial sessions were challenging as she struggled to implement the suggestions provided by her counsellor.
However, as her coursework began to calm down, Rituja started to find some peace. The therapy sessions helped her understand herself better and manage her thoughts more effectively.
“The major thing that benefited me was getting to know myself better. I started to understand my thoughts better.”
Her counsellor suggested various activities and techniques, such as writing down her feelings and engaging in physical activities.
“After coming to my college, all my physical activities halted for a while. But now, I’ve started them again and feel way better. Physical activity plays a significant role in my life.”
One of the exercises her counsellor recommended was writing down five positive things about each day or week. Initially, this exercise was challenging to follow, but she eventually got the hang of it.
Through her counsellor’s support, Rituja learned the importance of taking care of herself first before helping others. She now expresses her gratitude for her counsellor’s unwavering support.
“She was always there for me, even when I couldn’t follow her advice. I want to thank my counsellor for being with me through it all.”
In terms of feeling better, Rituja rates herself 3.5 out of 5. Improvement, to her, means staying calm and thinking clearly.
We at YourDOST are proud that Rituja is on the path to a brighter future, and we wish her all the best in her endeavours!
Rituja’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Focus on understanding yourself and your thoughts.”
2.“Be consistent in physical activities to maintain both mental and physical health.”
3.“Don’t hesitate to seek help when you need it.”
Are you someone who has gone through a difficult phase and emerged stronger and better, with some professional help? Share your story with us to encourage thousands of others who might be struggling. Click here to submit your story.
