Hey, I’m Vignesh, an aspiring entrepreneur. And here’s the story of my survival.
Survivor Series: Vignesh
I was depressed for the majority of my childhood. Being from a middle-class family and not doing well in studies alone contributes to a very traumatic experience on its own. Now add being obese, socially awkward and an introvert (without being aware of what it was). I always tried hard to fit into society, and be accepted. But the only thing consistent was rejection; amongst peers, teachers and family. This continued onto college life, soon overriding my mind, taking it to extreme states of depression where I started rationalizing suicide with (seemingly) logical arguments.
If I had to point out 1 particular point in my life which changed everything, I honestly cannot. There were multiple factors that cumulatively helped me turn my life around. But I can definitely point out that my first step to healing was attending a suicide prevention session hosted by Let’s Live at The Reading Room, Trivandrum on Sep 10th 2018. That was the first time I walked into a roomful of people who have, or were going through, something similar to what I was experiencing. Knowing that I was not alone gave me a piece of hope, a thread to cling onto. So many seeds were planted that day in my mind, which were watered and nurtured elsewhere, which grew into tools I would later use to battle my depression.
Survivor Series: Vignesh
Soon, I started thinking for myself; became conscious of my thoughts, environments, behaviours and habits. I questioned everything that I believed in, and re-wired the programming of my mind. I changed/removed everything that was mis-aligned with my happiness, and soon found my passion for the world of business, through something as mundane as binge watching. Shark Tank made me take notes while watching tv, and soon had me hooked. This was yet another gamechanger, because all my preconceived notions about myself as being someone with no skills/talents were disproved very quickly, as I was able to learn the concepts and rules of entrepreneurship very quickly.
Today, I work at an amazing company with a fabulous group of people, who unbelievably share very similar morals and ideals as me, making me feel very much accepted. I wake up everyday with gratitude for the gift of life, and all the sufferings I went through, which shaped me into who I am today. I truly believe that if not for the “failures” I met in life early on, I wouldn’t have grown to the person who I am today. I hope this inspires those reading this, who might be going through a rough patch (for most of their life), to not lose hope, because life is truly worth everything.
— Vignesh S–
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