You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take. - Wayne Gretzky

My cousin told me this a few years ago when I was completely down and out about my performance in my exams. I was going through a phase when I wanted only to do something for the sake of doing it and not putting my best efforts into it – which was obviously a very stupid thing to do. He explained this line to me so beautifully that even now, 6 years later, it’s my favourite quote. It is the first thought in my mind when I start something so that I make sure I give anything and everything, my best shot.

I know for a fact, that the essays I submitted were among my best works. To me, that is not being conceited – it is just a matter of knowing myself fully and completely. My aunt, who is an English teacher, proofread them for any grammar mistakes and my father’s sister husband, who is a scientist, read them purely to encourage me to submit them. I’m so grateful to both of them.

I started writing these essays when I was simultaneously preparing for a state- level seminar on a chemistry related topic on the 16th of February– which is why my very first blog post is combinatorial chemistry. My seminar went disastrously and I came home completely beaten. The next day, 17th February was the last date for submission for this competition. I felt initially that not getting through even this competition would probably shatter my already wounded ego.

I’d finished everything 3 days before and it was only a matter of mailing all the required documents. Imagine how riled I was when I realised that when I mailed everything, I’d forgotten the most important one of them all – my resume! Just then, there was a power cut! Thank goodness, the power came back earlier than I’d expected….. I then sent out all the documents and started on the longer tougher journey – the waiting!

I checked back to the website every 2 days but finally stopped it when I did not receive any correspondence even by the 1st of March. One of my very close friends asked me on 3rd about the results. She was surer of my success than I ever was. I sulked for a bit because I was reminded of it but then checked the website and my email account anyway. After 5 minutes, I ran back to her screaming, “I got shortlisted! I got shortlisted!” I narrated the whole incident to my guide teacher the following day and mailed the final documents.

I’m guessing you know what happened next….

This has been a very pleasant journey so far and I know this will continue if I maintain the same equanimity I started out with. I sincerely pray I do and hope everyone else does so too.

Good luck to everyone and may the best among us win!