Life will test us at times, even in ways we could not have anticipated. I have pondered many times about how success is heralded, how milestones are savoured and how worth is gauged by what we accomplish. But what about us, who toiled long and hard, who sweated and sacrificed, only to see every door slam shut? This is my tale, though it could probably be yours too, a tale of grit in the face of adversity.

I began tutoring at Class 12th. Teaching, imparting knowledge, was not merely a way of collecting pocket money, it was a passion. Those beginnings shaped me as a teacher, one who realized potential in every child. I recall spending evenings with students late at night, assisting them in untangling the secrets of mathematics and the beauty of literature. There was satisfaction in seeing them excel, a tranquil sense of pride.

Once I finished studying, I became a private teacher. The rooms were not my own, the facilities were minimal, but the passion was still intact. The aspiration to have a permanent government job, to gain respect and stability, was always in mind. Like all of us, I yearned for the security of a permanent position, for the appreciation that my toil was due for.

In 2009, I looked towards the JKAS examination. It wasn’t an examination, it was a ray of hope, a promise of a brighter future for my family. I worked day and night, read books, noted them down, revised again and again. My room........

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