A woman, determined to motivate the students, began sharing a story. “There was a girl named Yashika,” she said.

Yashika was an innocent and talkative girl, friendly with everyone, but she had a secret fear—stage fright. One day, her professor asked Yashika to give a seminar, but she was terrified. She tried to avoid it, but her professor insisted. Yashika's fear of speaking in front of others, combined with her fear of speaking English and worrying about what her classmates would think, held her back.

Her professor's parting words that day cut deep: “You'll never pass the exam if you can't even give a seminar. How will you write the exam?” Yashika felt hurt and cried, but those words stuck with her.

A semester later, the same professor announced another seminar. This time, Yashika was determined to face her fears. She worked hard, day and night, to prepare. When the day arrived, she surprised everyone, including her professor, by being the first to give her seminar and finishing it confidently.

Her professor was shocked and impressed. “I spoke harshly to you earlier, but it seems that's what motivated you,” she said. "You did well, and I'm proud of you. You've changed my perception of you. Keep up the good work, and I'm sure you'll attend conferences within the next three years.”

Yashika smiled and thanked her professor. Through her hard work, she not only changed her professor's mindset but also discovered a newfound confidence within herself.

The woman concluded, “That girl, Yashika, is now a famous writer and speaker. But what's remarkable is that she overcame her fear of public speaking despite coming from a Tamil medium background. Her story teaches us that schooling is just a season, and it's what we learn in college that truly matters.”

And that Yashika is the woman who stood before the students, sharing her story with them.

The End

Written by Madhumitha. A