When I
thought about the good memories from the past, the small pleasures of
childhood, the things which made me most happy, all those passions and dreams
which were too close to my heart.
Down
the memory lane, my mind went back to my teens when I went to an adventure trip
from school.
Our
camp was in the dense forests of Satpura Range near Pachmarhi in Central India.
I was always a competitive and studious child, with the only concern in my life
being that I have to come first in my class, anything less than that was just
not acceptable. I had never been into sports officially or experienced any
adventurous activity in my life till then. For the first time I felt that urge
to try adventure and started working out to compete with the most fit people in
the school and finally managed to get selected for the troupe, which was
originally for only the Bharat Scouts and Guides cadets. This was the more
exciting excursion for me ever and an experience of lot of firsts. I had never
been out of home before this without my parents around and had a tuff time
convincing them to allow me to go. This was the first time of strong persuasion
for something I really wanted to do and something in which I strongly believed
in. And finally could convince my orthodox, over protective parents to allow me
to explore completely another set of life. I realized how stubborn I can be and
at the same time being equally rational. I was never an early riser and
exercising, which they always asked me to do, was not even in the farthest picture.
But to show my dedication, I started getting up early in the morning, running
and working out for hours to prove my fitness and at the same time managing my
academics equally well. They were left with no other option but to allow me.
For the first time I realized that with hard work and right set of attitude
every odd could be conquered.
I
reached to the National trekking camp by travelling for hours, representing
team of my school. It was fun to meet new people from other schools and another
first was that I realized that I have a natural knack to interact with new
people, I really enjoyed sharing and exchanging experiences and unlike many
peers of my age, I did not show a stint of shyness in talking or initiating
conversation with people from any set of age group. I always had this thing in
back of my mind, that this is going to be an all together new experience for me
and I have to make most of it to discover so many things about myself which I
have never identified before being only an academically focused student. This
was the first time when I was facing the world on my own, without my parents
guarding or supervising it. But life was not that easy as I thought when I
planned. In one single day from cozy cushioned mattress at home, I was sleeping
on the bare floor of our small tent with a bunch of 15 other girls around, the
tent had some holes from which water could peep in when it rained. We were in
the midst of Jungles near a military camp. And monkeys, peacocks and several
other species were roaming with us without fear.
They
seemed to be quite comfortable and welcoming to live with new set of friends
being us, but it being first time for many of us, especially me, I couldn’t
reciprocate that warmness equally.
It
was horrible to notice that a monkey can jump into your tent anytime, snails,
spiders, squirrels and many new forms of species can sweep around you whenever
they feel like, the unforgettable mosquitoes and their unwanted kisses whole
night. Satpura forests are famous for patting and giving perfect breeding
ground for all species of malarial mosquitoes.
It
did not take me far to realize that my working out sessions were nothing when
it comes to getting trained by professional cadres and trainers. Blurring alarm
at 5 in the morning to assemble in the central ground for 5 km running and
different stretching exercises was the only dream I used to get in night.
Because if you get late even by 5 minutes, with the most genuine excuse of
longer queue for the bathroom, you won’t be heard and in any case your
punishment would be running, running and loads of running. After breakfast, we
used to leave for our expedition on mountaineering tracks and it was no sunny
day as was procrastinated every morning. The sun seemed to be in deep love with
Satpuras. Rock climbing, adventurous targets like crossing some lane with the
help of only ropes or tyres and alike, used to be our plan of the day. At times
we used to sing songs, folk poems, and chat general stuff in between and that
used to be the most fun part of it, when allowed. The day used to end at either
our camp or a camp at different locations, and by the time I used to reach my
tent, after spurring for 25 kms in the extremely long and tiring day with my
defected flat feets, I did not mind to sleep with snails, spiders and monkeys
around. Surprisingly, these insects got served in our food as well. This was
first of realizing how precious sleep can be and you ought to forget what you
are eating when you are genuinely hungry.
Four
long days were passed and I realized that I have not spoken to my parents as it
was not allowed. With every other thing, I was also managing my expenses with
the limited money I had. This was the first of living on own. And certainly it
was not at all easy and way beyond than tuff circumstances I had heard of; I
was not in a position to complain to anybody, because I myself wanted to
experience it. But I was missing my parents, home, delicious food cooked by
mom, and my comfortable zone. I was very young and immaturity was attached with
my soul. I gave up and decided to run away from the camp. And one night it
happened, I left in a single piece night suit knowing nothing where I am
heading to. But I just kept running in the lonely dark jungle with light
producing spiders and was lost. It was even more frightening. Life was giving
me all different set of tuff tastes which I was asking for unknowingly, testing
all my strength. I luckily happened to locate a military canteen around and
asked an uncle there to help me in calling at my home. I transferred the sense
of frightening, I was experiencing to my mother when she asked me where I was
and I replied back saying innocently, “I really don’t know mumma”. She was
terrified but convinced me to go back to my camp, with the promise that she
will be coming tomorrow to pick me up from there. I luckily managed to reach at
the time of head count in the camp otherwise would have been expelled.
After
I came back, I continuously felt guilty for not standing up to something I
myself asked for stubbornly. I was brilliant in everything I did so far, be it
academics, cultural activities, debates, etc. But I couldn’t face this new
challenge and felt like a loser that I gave up so early and accepted my defeat
in front of extreme circumstances. I cannot be that weak. It gave me immense
courage and determination from within to take up this challenge and to face it.
Despite all newer obstacles ahead, I managed to complete that first trekking
camp of longest ten days ever with above distinction grades. And most
importantly was gifted with some great friends for life. This was first of
accepting challenges in life and live up to them howsoever demanding and
excruciating it is.
I realized that no other lesson would have
taught me this much about the crude challenges of life once we are out of our
comfort zone and no other experience would have allowed exploring me so much
about myself. This helped me at every critical juncture of my life, and helped
me to stand true to every decision I took.
Mark
Twain wrote in ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ that an adventure can teach
someone something significant about not only about themselves; but also about other
people and the world in general. The main protagonist Huck has many learning
experiences as he travels on his adventure down the Mississippi River. He has
experienced and survived great obstacles in his young years, shapes his beliefs
and morals when he undergoes a considerable change in mind and heart with the
help of his runaway, slave friend, Jim. Huck is an individual at a tie between
a set of social breakdowns. His family, the legal system, and the community
have all failed to protect Huck and provide a set of beliefs and values that could
satisfy him. The sense of independence, moral and intellectual development that
he feels through this journey is something I connect with.
