STORY OF FAILURES OR LEARNINGS?

The winds whispered cold, the mercury dipped below ten,

Yet sweat beaded my brow on that fateful day when

I rushed to the sports ground on my first day of college, as the selections for NCC were taking place. I had always wanted to be part of it, so I went straight for the selections. After a whole day of physical and written tests, we were called for interviews, and a week later, the results came out: I was selected.

A battle raged inside my mind, questioning whether it would be the right place for me and if I'd be able to make it through. Pushing these doubts aside, I just jumped in. Whether this decision was right or wrong, you'll understand as you read this article. Since no one from my family or friends was in NCC, I wasn't well aware of its workings, but I learned slowly and gradually. As I learned about the camps, I decided to go for RDC. It was my only dream that I wanted to fulfill in NCC.

In June 2023, selections for RDC were conducted, and I made it to the first camp, but that was it. I was out in the second round. This was the first lesson I learned from NCC: acceptance. Acceptance of failure, standing firm through it, and rising again. But I realized that NCC wasn't limited to just that; it offered many other opportunities to groom you and make you bold. I had always wanted to speak in public with the confidence of other orators. So I started participating in debate competitions held during NCC fests, and I discovered a different side of myself that I wasn't aware of before.

Time passed, and I entered my third year of NCC. Once again, I dreamed of something: becoming Senior Under Officer. But guess what? Another dream shattered. I got the post of Junior Under Officer instead. Acceptance came into play again. With shattered dreams, I proceeded with utmost respect for what I had. But I had people around me who always had my back; I made a family here whom I call buddies. And I learned one thing from my seniors: bonds made here stay forever.

Now comes the best part of my whole NCC journey, which made me fall in love with my failures, or as I call them, learnings. I attended a Combined Annual Training Camp where our Commanding Officer was Col. Madhup Upadhyay, a man from whom I learned it's not about what you want to have, but how well you use what you have. The respect he shows to his counterparts, irrespective of their position, taught me the difference between just doing your duty and respecting your duty, showing honesty and love towards it.

Overall, the ride had always been full of ups and downs. Small things done in NCC make significant changes in your personality, whether it's standing firm, shaking hands with confidence, or public speaking.

It would be hard to put every learning into words, but if I had not been in NCC, I might never have been able to write this article or speak in a room full of people. So when you think you are failing, think again, because failure is nothing but learning until you succeed.