Life has a way of teaching us lessons in the most unexpected ways. Some lessons come from choices we make, while others come from the ones we didn’t. As I sit down to reflect, I don’t want to look at my past with regret. Instead, I want to acknowledge the lessons that have shaped me into the person I am today. I hope that by sharing my experiences, someone out there may find comfort in knowing that they are not alone in their struggles and realizations.
I often think about my student years, particularly the time when I was preparing for college. I was an average student, neither excelling nor falling behind. I believed that doing just enough would get me where I wanted to be. But the truth is, I could have done more. I should have studied a little harder, pushed myself beyond my comfort zone, and aimed higher. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the long-term impact of my academic choices. It was only later, when I met people who had gone to top colleges in India, that I understood the difference a good institution can make. The opportunities, the exposure, the network, these were things I hadn’t given much thought to in my younger years. But dwelling on what could have been wouldn’t serve me any good. Instead, I learned that hard work and dedication can still open doors, even if they don’t come as easily as they do for those who had a head start. This lesson became a driving force for me in my professional life.
Stepping into the corporate world was another reality check. In college, we are often led to believe that if we work hard, we will be rewarded accordingly. But reality is far more complex. I entered my first job eager to prove myself, but soon I realized that merit alone doesn’t always dictate success. Office politics, networking, and the ability to assert oneself played crucial roles. I wish I had known earlier that doing good work isn’t enough. You have to make sure people see it. I spent years thinking that my efforts would automatically be recognized, only to watch others, sometimes less competent but more vocal, move ahead faster. The lesson here was clear – advocating for yourself is just as important as the work you put in. No one will hand you what you deserve unless you make it known.
Another thing I learned was the importance of financial independence. Growing up, my parents always told me to save money, but I never really understood why. It wasn’t until I faced financial instability in my mid-twenties that I realized the value of managing money wisely. Learning about investments, savings, and financial security should be something we take seriously from an early age. It’s a lesson that I now stress upon to every young woman I meet, be financially independent, not just for yourself but for the freedom it gives you to make choices based on your happiness, not your circumstances.
One of the hardest lessons I had to learn was about friendships and relationships. The people we surround ourselves with have a profound impact on our lives, and not everyone who starts the journey with us will stay until the end. I used to be the kind of person who held on to friendships for years, even when they had run their course. I believed in loyalty, sometimes to the point of my own detriment. But life taught me that it’s okay to let go. Not every friendship is meant to last forever, and that’s not a bad thing. Some people come into our lives for a season, and their role is to teach us something before moving on. Learning to accept this without bitterness has brought me a lot of peace.
Similarly, I’ve learned that being a woman in any industry comes with its own unique challenges. I’ve been in meetings where my ideas were ignored until a male colleague repeated them. I’ve had to work twice as hard to prove my capabilities, and I’ve had to fight for the same opportunities that were easily handed to others. But instead of feeling resentful, I choose to use these experiences as motivation. If the world makes it harder for women to succeed, then I will be twice as determined to break those barriers. One of the most empowering lessons I’ve learned is that no one else is going to fight for you the way you will fight for yourself. So, I do. Every single day.
As I look back, I see a life filled with experiences that have shaped me, but not one that I regret. Would things have been different if I had studied a little harder, spoken up a little sooner, or been more aware of the power dynamics in my workplace? Maybe. But every choice I made, whether consciously or unknowingly, has contributed to the person I am today. And I wouldn’t change that for anything.
To anyone reading this, especially young women just stepping into adulthood, my only advice is this, learn from those who have walked before you. Work hard, but also work smart. Advocate for yourself because no one else will do it for you. Manage your finances early, and don’t be afraid to walk away from people and situations that no longer serve you. Most importantly, don’t waste time on regrets. Turn every misstep into a lesson, and you’ll realize that everything happens for a reason, even if it doesn’t make sense at the time.
Life isn’t about regretting what you didn’t do. It’s about learning from your journey and using those lessons to build a better future.