“The only journey is the one within” – Rainer Maria Rilke.
Meet Vedansh, a spirited 25-year-old on a corporate path like no other. A graduate of XLRI, Vedansh is currently working in the communications department of a firm in Mumbai, the city of dreams.
When he’s not busy staring at spreadsheets or drafting a content brief, he spends his free time juggling his love for tennis, quizzing and movies.
In a country as cricket-crazy as India, most boys dream of playing for their country. Vedansh was one of them, but unfortunately, life (and family) had different plans for him. Even though he wanted to be a cricketer, the practical solution was engineering, so he pursued that.”
“With both my parents in academia, it felt almost natural for me to lean toward the same path — an unspoken expectation I was surrounded by, growing up.”
As far as relationships go, Vedansh comes from a joint family, where he lived with his grandparents. As the first grandchild, he was doted upon by his grandparents, and he still shares a very close bond with them today.
Having finished his engineering degree, Vedansh ventured out to pursue his MBA. With hard work and dedication, he secured a seat in one of the most prestigious institutions in the country, XLRI.
Moving away from home, Vedansh soon found out what goes on behind the scenes while pursuing an MBA. The long hours and the anxiety around academic pressure took a toll on him.
As a kid, Vedansh was also more laid-back than outgoing.
During his initial MBA years, he struggled to find his tribe among the other students. Not able to fit in, he struggled with issues of image and self-esteem. Another aspect of his MBA that he felt uncomfortable with was the traditions around seniors, lording over the juniors- as a welcoming tradition.
“They say it is preparation for the real world, but it does not excuse bad behaviour. This needs to change. “
Another significant incident during the initial months of his MBA was a relationship fallout, the issues of which lingered on for months. Feeling isolated from his peers, he looked for a healthy outlet.
That’s when he decided to use the university’s subscription to the YourDOST platform. As he had never tried therapy before, he had his inhibitions at first. This also carried on to his first two sessions, where he did not feel much of a difference.
However, the one thing he did do was bring this up with his counselor, who mentioned that therapy is a process that takes time. Armed with some more confidence, they started working on strategies to combat his emotional state.
During that time, Vedansh also recalls experiencing anxiety attacks. His counselor suggested some ways to work through these episodes. One of her suggestions was for him to start journaling, which gave him a healthier outlet to express those emotions.
She also helped him understand that therapy was like going to the gym; it required consistency and effort.
“When I made therapy an active part of my life, when I took sessions after sessions, after sessions, after sessions, every month, every week, that is when it started to help”.
Breathing exercises also played a huge role. Slowly and steadily, he could feel secure with his emotions, navigate anger episodes with ease and focus on his physical fitness.
What started as a college initiative turned into a lifelong commitment. Vedansh continues therapy to this day, recognising its impact in helping him understand himself better. Therapy was not just about overcoming a challenging phase; it became a tool for self-awareness, growth, and resilience.
To him, improvement means feeling confident in his skin, which he strives towards. He now rates himself a 3.5 out of 5 in terms of feeling better. We wish him the best of luck on his journey!
Vedansh’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Men and boys must understand that it’s okay not to feel okay. Asking for help doesn’t make you weaker; it makes you stronger.”
2.“Check in on the people you love—your friends and family—because a simple “How are you?” goes a long way.”
3.“Say ‘no’ and don’t apologise for protecting your peace. You’re allowed to have boundaries even if it disappoints others.”
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.
