Hidden Horizons
“…and that is how, three years came to a beautiful end.” Well, not just that! Every story needs an introduction, a plot, and thereafter a happy ending and that is how I'll describe mine.
Jai Hind! A cadet, a cadet sergeant, and a cadet senior under officer, I never expected my vehicle to turn this way. I joined NCC because my mother, my father, my grandmother, and practically every person in my family has been a cadet once and their theory of "once a cadet, always a cadet" thrilled me enough to join the same.
I joined NCC back in 2020 and now it's 2023. Three years is a beautiful time because if I describe my college life, it's just about NCC.
From shying away from participating in any activity related to drill to actually working towards improving the same, this organization has taught me the most authentic and amazing value of life, positivity. Positivity doesn't come to you on its own! You make way for it by accepting the situations and handling them in your own way. It comes to you when you see your juniors practicing for the sake of improvement.
NCC for me has become more than just a co-curricular activity. When I joined the organization, I did so with the motive of being involved in something other than academics. Little did I know that this organization will become the most important part of my college years and academics will become something I'll do other than NCC!
Cadets would often ask how can academics and NCC work together but I realized pretty early that NCC will itself give you the capacity and talent to balance the same.
I've represented the group and the directorate at various camps one of them being the RDC 2023. This camp is a dream for all NCC cadets and I got to live it. At RDC, friends become family, a family forever. It's been a year to our camp but I can happily and proudly say that even today, I am well in touch with my buddies who, a year back, attended visits and tea parties with me! We've literally grown up with each other because this camp changed our entire personality. From being careless pampered kids, you don't realize when you grow up to become a person waking up at 4:30 am to help the others with the line area or taking care of each other and making others feel at home. Some days were rough but when you have friends around you, you'll end up laughing your heart out for no reason at all. This was another thing that I've learned in these three years because “a friend in need is a friend indeed” has come alive right in front of my eyes a thousand times.
NCC gives you lessons, lessons for life.
I can say that it has made me what I am and what I will be, that is, more responsible, more realistic and practical and grateful for all the people and to all the people for their support always. You will definitely find different people. Some might not be supportive, but the ones who support your growth will outshine the rest.
One thing that I have learned with the passage of time in NCC is that you must never let anyone draw any opinions about you and if they do, you should never let it affect you because if you do, it'll only result in your downfall. Never lose out on your confidence because trust me, one lost, it takes years to get back. It has taught me how to handle mental pressure and if you learn this technique of handling, 'when the going gets tough, the tough gets going', without a doubt.
To all those reading this, always remember one thing, the path is different but what you turn into after three years is what you will be proud of for the rest of your lives. You will not realize it now but once you pass out, you will understand exactly for all that you have been prepared, by this organization, knowingly or unknowingly.
- SUO Maanika Sethi
7 HP(I) COY NCC
Shimla
PHHPC Directorate