People often say that destiny is written before we are born, but I have always believed that a person shapes their own future. My name is Aarav, and I was born in a small town where dreaming big was considered unrealistic. My father ran a tiny shop, and my mother was a homemaker. We did not have much money, but we were rich in hope and determination.
From a young age, I loved studying. While other children played outside, I spent hours with books. At night, when the whole house slept, I studied under a dim light. Power cuts were common, so I often used my phone's flashlight to read. Many people laughed at me and said, "What will you gain by studying so much?" I never replied, because my dreams were too precious to explain.
After tenth grade, life became more difficult. My father fell ill, and the shop stopped earning well. There were moments when I thought I would have to quit my studies and start working. I blamed my destiny for my struggles. I wondered why life was so unfair. During those dark days, my mother's words kept me strong. She always said, "Hard times come to make us stronger, not to break us."
I decided to fight instead of giving up. I studied during the day and worked as a tutor in the evenings. The days were exhausting, but every good result gave me new energy. When I topped my school in the twelfth grade, I felt that destiny was finally responding to my hard work.
Going to college in a big city was my next challenge. We had no savings, and everything depended on a scholarship. On the day the results were announced, my heart was racing. When I saw my name on the list, tears rolled down my face. That moment changed my life forever.
College life was not easy. I felt insecure among confident and wealthy students. Many times, I doubted myself, but I reminded myself how far I had already come. I worked harder, learned new skills, and never stopped believing in myself. Slowly, things began to change.
After graduation, I got a good job. My first salary was not very big, but it meant everything to me. I bought medicine for my father and a sari for my mother. That day, I understood the true meaning of destiny. Destiny is not luck or magic. It is built with patience, struggle, and faith.
Today, when I look back, I realize my destiny was always with me. It was simply testing my courage. If I had given up, destiny would have turned away from me.
Now I firmly believe that destiny favors those who never stop believing in themselves.