WHO IS YOUR “YOU”?
[19.03.08]



Everything I do, I do it for you…..
Sounds like a casual love song Bryan Adams huskily cooed for someone special? But I see a gem of a lesson here for students to learn. Notice that “you” Adams crazily dedicated his song to must not be an ordinary one. She must have been someone for whom he was ready to give up his everything.
A student’s is a stage in life where he is flooded with many “you’s”. We have many “you’s” and we are also someone’s “you” as well. We are so overwhelmed with those “you’s” that we sometimes get washed away by the wrong “you” at the wrong time and for all the wrong reasons. In fact, those wiser ones who could make out a definite “you” in their student’s life are the ones who make it.
Here, what I am hinting at is that you must make your own “you”. Sincerely. You may choose someone you highly admire or even adored and worshipped. Whom do you want to make your “you” today? Your parents? Brother or sister? Grandparents? A friend? A mentor? Your class teacher? Perhaps, your boyfriend/girlfriend? Your “you” can even be as simple as a dream, a burning desire to achieve a certain goal. Or even the whole world? A longing to offer compassionate service to humanity, the less fortunate, orphans, or the diseased. It can be your motherland — patriotism. Or you may want to lay the soul of a deceased loved one at peace by accomplishing your promise! Yes, even a promise will do for “you”.
Whatever be the case, what we want here is that you must have a model “you” after which you must inspire yourself. After all, you must be your own encourager, motivator and inspirer. Appoint your own “you” scrupulously. No one is going to impose a “you” for you. In essence, you must be a self-starter. All successful men in the world have this ‘self-starter’ syndrome as the foremost quality in their life. They never depend on someone or something to move forward. But, the secret of this “self-starter” is a “you” that shines like a tiny light at the end of the tunnel which they badly want to impress.
Once you set your “you”, there is not space for faltering. The vision became clear. The lenses are focused and the picture sharp. The aim is straight and not a prospect of missing the target in sight. I don’t mean that we become infallible in having “you”. But, even when we are offbeat our “you” is too much to disappoint and we are very much indisposed to let her down that we spring back to our feet and press on — correcting and fixing up all those blunders and bungles along the way.
“You” prodded us on when we are worn and down, motivated us when we are discouraged, and refreshed us when we are confounded. Indeed, our faith (even in ourselves) wavered and dissipated sometimes. But “you” is the best recharge coupon when our balance of willpower, effort and commitment run low.
We are hell bent on making our “you” proud. We are determined against all odds to make your “you” stand tall. You have no time to spare to pine and sigh. Frustrations and failures, that previously are threatening you to give up, now become stepping stones and signposts toward future attainments. Lethargy, boredom, laxity and any negativity that can hamper our raging endeavor stand no chance against our devotion to “you”.
Pessimism, apprehensions and anxiety are things of the past for we realized that they are only agents of failure. And confidence is the only weapon that can fight these dark forces back. “You” teaches us carefulness and prompt. We avoid overconfidence and skirt those many avoidable mistakes due to carelessness and indolence. And thereby ensure unto ourselves the coveted crown of success.
The road to education and success is rough. The risk is high. And the pathways treacherous. There are no shortcuts. The long journey toward this destiny called success is so tiresome that many people could not make it and buckled sometimes at the very threshold of the finishing point. But, remember, success is a process and not the end. Sounds self contradictory, huh! Don’t get caught up in this disillusion. You can only pass by success, but never come to it. You move on. And your “you” also moves on……That means, your “you” also (has to) change accordingly (but not necessarily). Change is an integral part of life. Success is only a change for the better. Keep on changing — for the better. That is what we call success. And the person or thing behind each success that you called “you” will all the more deserve the devotion and greatness you crazily ascribe. Enough of this digression. But I’ll not get back to the point to remind you that you must have a “you” to inspire you all along the way.
Who is your “you” anyway?
One giant billboard I saw in a busy Kolkata street side reads: We all change for the ones we love…How true. But we must change for the better! And say everything I do I do it for you………….