“Just keep swimming.” – Dory, Finding Nemo.
Life often feels like an endless ocean with waves huge enough to knock us down. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the current and lose sight of the shore. However, like Dory’s simple and powerful advice, the key is to keep moving forward, no matter how tough things get. Through perseverance and the right support, we can sail above even the stormiest waters and find our way to brighter days.
Meet Arya (name changed), a 22-year-old student in her final year of Integrated M.Sc. at NIT Rourkela. She is currently doing an internship in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha.
Arya is originally from Rourkela, Odisha. She remembers having a difficult relationship with her brother in her childhood.
“We fight a lot and even though it’s typical sibling stuff, sometimes it gets really bad and toxic. He says mean things, and I can’t take it.”
Arya remembers being unsure about her future during her high school times and couldn’t decide which stream to choose. She and her family turned to a well-known edtech company for guidance as they couldn’t find a suitable tutor for her. Sadly, they were tricked into enrolling in an expensive home-tutoring course where the courses were ineffective. Arya ended up having to study from free YouTube videos.
“Recently, I found out the company went bankrupt and I’m glad they went under. They cheated middle-class families like ours, who just want their kids to study well.”
Arya has many hobbies like dancing, and she also enjoys playing games, whether it’s sports, indoor games, or online games with friends. She even likes writing short poetry.
Arya heard about YourDOST from her college, which partners with the organization for mental health support. Here she met her counsellor, Ms Mahika.
“At first, I felt anxious, but slowly I became comfortable enough to open up about my issues.”
Arya decided to try therapy when she learned she could access counseling sessions for free through her college. She wanted to try therapy without worrying about the cost and hence learned how to use the platform.
Her therapy included activities like journaling, which she was already doing.
“I was journaling even before therapy. My counsellor also suggested breathing techniques and guided meditation. In addition to them, I often distracted myself by watching something, sleeping, or talking to friends.”
Therapy brought positive changes to Arya’s life and after each session, she felt much lighter. She could vent out everything as over the years, she had faced many challenges, and now she knew what was right to do and what was not, who to trust and who not to trust. Now she feels a little freer like coming out of the chaos.
“I’m very thankful to my therapist for listening to my worries without judging me and being very patient. When I was feeling very low, I just wanted to connect with someone and speak my heart out. I found someone on a safe platform, and I’m very grateful for that. It has saved me a lot just by being able to vent out instantly.”
In terms of feeling better, Arya rates herself 3 out of 5 and feels she has more room to improve and get better.
We are confident that Arya is just moments away from hitting the golden 5 mark, and we wish her the best in all her future endeavors!
Arya’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 don’t appreciate it. It helps get rid of negative energy.”
