My dear friends, fellow dreamers, and future doctors,
Today I want to share something very close to my heart – a story that has shaped who I am and what I believe about success, dreams, and the beautiful struggle we call life.
The Power of Dreaming Big
You know, caring for your dreams is precious, but the most important thing is to dream. Sometimes we stop right there. We get scared of dreaming because someone tells us “it won’t happen.” But I’m here to tell you – never stop dreaming.
There are no shortcuts – neither for you nor for me. When you sleep at night, stand in front of the mirror and ask yourself, “Did I give my best today?” You don’t need anybody else’s validation. If you can give your best every single day for 45 days, you don’t need anybody. This is the truth.
The Balloon Story That Changed Everything
Let me take you back to when I was six years old, living in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. My father used to take me for walks every day – precious moments where I felt like a king walking those streets.
There was a balloon seller who had the most beautiful balloons. My two favourites were a heart-shaped pink balloon and a fish-shaped blue balloon. Every day, I’d beg my father to buy me one. They were expensive – probably more than what a six-year-old could understand. The cost of those balloons would have exceeded my father’s income if bought daily.
But I could only see the balloon, not the word “limitation.”
When my parents refused, I’d throw tantrums. I’d take off my clothes, roll in the dirt, eat soil, pull at the balloon seller’s dhoti – anything to get those balloons. After 20 minutes of this drama, I’d emerge victorious: mud-covered, with my father holding my clothes, and me clutching both balloons in my hands.
I was the king of those streets.
My mother would scrub me clean, but I never let go of those balloons. They were my victory, my history. No one could wash away the soil of my triumph.
The Wisdom That Changed My Life
The next morning, my grandmother would take me on her lap and ask what happened. When I showed her my balloons, she shared wisdom that transformed my entire perspective on life:
“As you grow in life, these balloons might become a cricket match you want to win, a seat in medical college, the girl you wish to marry, a hospital you want to create, or a car you wish to own.
But if you don’t care whether you have clothes on your body, if you don’t care whether people are laughing at you, and if you don’t give up – at the end of the day, you will have your balloons.”
This is what matters in life.
Dreams Must Be Specific
Before you sleep tonight, write like a lion – because doctors are lions. Don’t just write “I want a Mercedes.” Write: “I want an E-class black Mercedes with this number. I’ll take my parents for the first ride.”
Write your entire dream in detail: the hospital you want, how many floors, what the operation theatre looks like. Email it to yourself. Years later, when you open that email, I’m certain your dream will be fulfilled.
The Yo-Yo Man and Finding Your Identity
When I bought my first simple car, at a friend’s restaurant opening, a classmate mocked me: “You were good in studies. What are you driving? I thought you’d have a BMW by now.”
This “Yo-Yo Man” made me feel small, telling me how I’d fallen short of expectations. But then my friend explained what being a doctor really means: “A doctor has a brain that thinks about patients regardless of their background, hands that work to heal, and a heart that always wishes for their patient’s recovery.”
The Pride of Being a Doctor
The next time someone asks what you do, bring a light smile to your face, make your chest a little wider, and speak like a lion: “I am a doctor.”
This is what you should always be proud of. No entrance exam, no selection can take this away from you. It’s the most precious thing, far above everything else that will happen in your life.
The Final Message
My dear friends, there are no shortcuts to success. The path is long, sometimes lonely, and always challenging. But if you hold onto your dreams like I held onto those balloons – if you’re willing to get dirty, face criticism, and never give up – you will achieve everything you’ve ever dreamed of.
Remember: you are a doctor, you are a lion, and your dreams are valid.
Now go out there and claim your balloons.
