Life has different plans, always! — Part 2
If you haven’t read part 1 of this story. Here is the link to Part 1.
After suddenly being attacked by chickenpox, I lost my hopes of making it to the mountaineering course.
I was very well-prepared for the course. I put my heart, soul, and body into it. Since the day I decided to join the course, I woke up every day by 5 AM and went to a nearby stadium on my neighbor’s bicycle. I carried water bottles in a bag which served as weights while running on the ground.
I read somewhere on the mountaineering institute’s blog that the candidates must be very fit to excel in the course. So I pushed my boundaries and got stronger physically and mentally.
I still didn’t act on the most challenging task — convincing my Dad to allow me to go on this adventure.
Yeah! My Dad didn’t know anything about my course or plans. My mom helped me with the money I needed for the course fee, train tickets, etc.
My Dad is very supportive in encouraging my sister and me with all kinds of physical activities, but I knew he would disapprove of my decision in this matter. I guess he feared that we might end up choosing these unconventional careers and fail to settle down financially in life. Of course, he had societal influence in his thinking, so I wouldn’t blame him.
Coming back to my situation — Sadly, no miracle happened, and it took me ten days to get back to normal. Yes, I missed my train to Pahalgam and the course at JIM! Thus, my father never needed to know any of this secret mission.
Slowly I got settled to being normal — I never went to the stadium again out of anger. I was unsure whom to blame. Two months later, my student visa to study at the University of Houston, Texas, got approved. To be honest, I wasn’t passionate about pursuing a master’s, but I thought I would get exposed to a different country and various cultures in the school.
I landed in America with not many expectations. On the first day, we had orientation and the university tour. Then something happened that I didn’t imagine, which instantly made me happy.
As part of the school tour, we went to our recreation center and the very first thing I saw there — a giant climbing wall! Below is a picture of it to help your imagination. Yeah! It’s huge.
This gesture destiny threw at me assured me that I wasn’t going to be alone for the next couple of years at the school.
This climbing wall became my best friend, and whenever I felt low, I hit the recreation center. My rock-solid support system always embraced me and made me feel better. :)
I always remember one thing — When something doesn’t go right or as expected, I believe that something else will emerge to compensate for the prior.
Be happy like it’s your last day on earth, and stay hungry as if you are going to live eternally.
