I often visit the schools in the areas where I grew up and talk to the students. I tell them about my own journey and experiences, and how I was able to overcome the challenges that came my way. I want to give them hope and inspire them to chase their dreams.
I share the struggles I faced growing up – poverty, being a village boy, my stuttering, being very thin, and not being considered attractive. But despite these challenges, I was able to succeed in life. And one thing that helped me along the way was finding inspiration in the characters from a novel – Vikas the Great and Vijay the Great. I even started calling myself “Taren the Great” to boost my confidence and believe in myself.
And to this day, I still carry that belief with me, proudly displaying the title of ‘Taren The Great’ on my car with the license plate ‘TARE TG’, a daily reminder of the power of dreaming and believing in oneself.
I believe that the reason why the students connect with me is because I was one of them. I understand the struggles they are going through, and I can relate to their experiences. And that’s why I am hopeful that some of them will be able to succeed, just like I did.
Apart from sharing my personal experiences, I also offer a unique perspective to the students on how to approach falling in love with new experiences, whether it is trying a new dish or pursuing a new passion. In my view, having an open mind and challenging our preconceived notions is the key to discovering new interests and passions in life.
I often share the story of how I learned to like a dish that I once disliked. I explain to the students that our likes and dislikes are not inherent traits that we are born with, but rather are perceptions that we create over time. We might not like a dish simply because we had a bad experience with it on one occasion. To overcome this, I suggest the students keep an open mind and approach things with a fresh perspective. I encourage them to try new experiences without any preconceived notions and to give them a chance to grow on them.
I also explain how sometimes, it takes stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing new challenges to discover our true potential. Just like how I learned to like a dish by starving myself all day and finally giving it a chance, the students can learn to like new experiences by taking risks and trying new things.
I encourage students to train their brain to be more efficient in storing and recalling information. One technique that I suggest is creating mind maps or diagrams to help visualize and organize information. Another is to practice active recall by testing oneself on what has been learned, rather than simply rereading notes.
I also emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as getting enough sleep, eating nutritious food, and exercising regularly, as these habits can positively impact brain function. Ultimately, I believe that with proper training and care, the brain can be a powerful tool in achieving academic success.
I also talk to the students about the power of good karma. I believe that the universe has a way of working in our favor when we do good things and put positive energy out into the world. When we help others, show kindness and compassion, and do the right thing, it creates a ripple effect of positivity that can help us in ways we may not even realize.
I encourage the students to always strive to do good karma, even in small ways. It could be as simple as holding the door open for someone or offering a helping hand to a friend in need. These small acts of kindness can have a huge impact on our lives and the lives of those around us.
I also remind them that good karma is not just about doing good things to get something in return. It’s about cultivating a positive mindset and living a life of purpose and intention. When we focus on doing good and being kind, we attract more positivity and abundance into our lives.
I share my own experiences of how good karma has helped me in my life, whether it’s meeting the right people at the right time, getting unexpected opportunities, or overcoming obstacles with ease. By sharing these stories, I hope to inspire the students to cultivate a positive mindset and always strive to do good karma in their own lives.
At the end of the day, I want to be able to help young people believe in themselves and their potential. I want to show them that with hard work, determination, and a little bit of hope, they can achieve anything they set their minds to.