an incident which taught you the importance of discipline
Answers
My favourite subject from childhood was Maths- the subject which is infact the poetry of logical ideas. I was pretty good at maths too. One day, the maths teacher asked a question to me - “A women was born in 1975 and died in 1975 and at the time of her death she was 22 years old. How?” . I was unable to answer this question. He started laughing and in front of whole class told me “You’re zero at maths. You can't solve a simple question. Remove Maths as your favourite subject. You're not born for maths”
I was downhearted and was feeling very upset. But there was a teacher who liked me very much and he told me to never focus on other's words. He encouraged me to take part in Maths Olympiad. I participated in it and from the day one, I started preparing for it. The other children started making fun of me coz I was just focusing on maths rather than on other subjects. But I never pay importance to them. Then came the day of exam. I was quite happy that I know the answer to most of the questions. After giving exam, I crossed paths with the maths teacher and I challenged him that this time I will be definitely in top 3. He gave an evil smile. Then comes the result day. I tried to find out my name in top-3 but I was not there. This was the darkest day for me. I became very discouraged and the words of that maths teacher started echoing in my ears. It was so hard to believe that three-four months of preparation was in vain. I started feeling that life has ended for me. I decided never ever to give any maths exam.
In the hometime, I remembered that school bus will not come today. So, I started looking for rickshaw. Soon, I found one. But wait, This rickshaw-driver was not an ordinary rickshaw driver! I soon noticed that he was without one hand. Firstly, I was frightened upon realising that. But then, I asked him politely “what has happened to your other hand” He replied that “he had lost his one hand and his one leg in an accident” Now, I was super-frightened. I thought that my life is in danger. He was driving with one hand, so there are more chances of an accident. I asked him to take money but please let me go. He said “Okay, I'm stopping the rickshaw but I will not take the money coz that is not the money earned by my hard-work” Now, I was wondering what to do. Soon, I saw that he was sweating badly. I gave him permission to start the rickshaw as I thought he is working so hard and it will be so rude to catch another rickshaw. And also, in today's world, whoever becomes disabled they started cursing their life but this guy was so different as he is still working to earn money. While I was riding, out of boredom, I asked him “Why do you work so hard? You can even do something else to feed yourself” . Now what he replied shocked me and also amazed me. He said “The purpose of my earning is not only to feed myself, but I'm also preparing for government job. And I need money for coaching and all. I have already given many attempts and I couldn't clear it but the past never bothered me at all. Now, that's my target and whatever happens, I will never stop. No power in the world can now stop me from achieving my goal.”
I asked him “but don't you think how many years you have wasted to achieve your goal”. He replied “wasted? Wasted for what? To achieve my goal? My goal is the only thing for which I'm living and you're saying I wasted. I always believe that human beings are the most intelligent creatures and if they decide to do anything firmly, then nothing can stop them. But unfortunately, most human beings don't know this secret. If they lose one time, they started thinking that their preparation gone in vain. But they don't realize what things they have learned from their experience”
Now, I started thinking how fool I used to be. I realized that we both are same - humans and we both have goals. But what makes us different is that he is constantly fighting for his goal and on the other hand, I, myself is only getting away from my goal. I was very inspired by him. He gave me the potential to reach anywhere to life !
I decided to take away part in the Olympiad again next year and will not stop until I will prove the teacher's words false.
That rickshawala really taught me a big lesson. I realized that to succeed in your life, we must face troubles bcz after facing troubles only, we'll get happiness. If life would be without troubles then the word 'happiness' will lose its meaning. And also, if we decide to achieve anything in life, then nobody can stop us.
Thank you!!! ❤️