Duc In Altum To Realise Your Dreams
I share parts of my talk at my alma mater. I feel you may discover some inspiring insights as a BW-reader. My school has nurtured MEN-OF-CHARACTER, who make POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS to our society and to the world. MEN-OF-CHARACTER like Supercop Julio Ribeiro, Architect Charles Correa, sportsmen like Sunil Gavaskar, Milind Rege, scientists like Homi Sethna , Somnath Bharadwaj, Attorney-General of India Soli Sorabjee, anthropologist Arjun Appadurai, Magistrate Luis Cordeiro, soldiers like General Ian Cardozo, General G.S. Narula and captains of industry like Adi Godrej, Deepak Parekh, Madhusudan Kotak and several others. I said:
I am feeling elated, energised, invigorated and inspired to be standing here today. Grateful to our honourable Principal Sharmila Sunny, Reverend Dr. Fr. Francis Swamy and my beloved teachers Joan Soares, Renee Carvalho, Fleur Almeida, Manoel Raphael and fellow Xavierites Ian Stanton and Viral Parikh, because of whom I stand humbled before you today.
As a Xavierite, I am replete with feelings of deep nostalgia and humility, whenever I return here. This institute sowed the seeds and values of humanity in me, which makes me who I am and challenges me to keep being more. I made the cut at Xaviers, due to the hard work and efforts of my mother Betty Lucia Martins who dreamt of a holistic-education for me, at the much-coveted St Xaviers High School. I am experiencing a smorgasbord of emotions, to participate as Chief Guest in the closing-ceremony of our sesquicentennial. I share this honour with all Xavierites, especially my batch-mates from the Class Of 86!
All I can say is Whoa! Life has truly come a FullCircle . I am elated, yet edgy as I have to meet many expectations here today. It is a matter of singular-honour for me to have an opportunity to speak from the very podium, where several eminent personalities and Xavierites have spoken before.
DUC-IN-ALTUM (our school’s motto) means to go out into the deep, go into the unknown. To explore the mysteries and possibilities, by going deep into the wilderness of our mind, body, heart, spirit and soul to DISCOVER AND INSPIRE SOLID CHARACTER. Never be afraid to walk the path of truth, even if it hurts. We must learn to accept our truths and be ourselves, and love ourselves as we truly are.
I would not be standing here today if I had not made some wrong choices that helped me to understand the right path and become a REBEL FOR COMMITTED WORTHY CAUSES. I was once a rebel without a cause or pause. Most people believe in fate, destiny and also teach their children this. There were times as a teenager when I wished to believe this too.
Over time I have learned that our life is not resigned to fate or destiny, but to our will to make choices that create our own path. I inherently believe that we are the creators of our life journey and path. Each of us have the power to create our own fate. The journey of our life, our outcomes and consequences in life (negative or positive) are shaped by a series of choices that we make in our lifetime.
One choice leading to another is what brings us great moment of majestic joy or years of miserable regret. These series of choices, shape our destiny and legacy. That is what many people choose to call fate.
The truth be told, we should develop the will and skill to unleash our potential and create our own destiny. In the end it is up to each and all of us, to be the authors of our own life story.
Personally, I made some spectacularly dreadful choices in my life, but have also exercised my will to learn from that and make many astoundingly, fantabulous choices. This made me walk the path less trodden and that has made all the difference in my life.
I am because of Mom and the school of her dreams. YES, my strong, resilient, courageous mom chose this dream for me and the school shaped, unleashed and inspired SOLID CHARACTER to be the change.
My mum, my school, my brothers and sisters, my wife, our children, my family and school friends will always be the best things that ever happened to me. They keep inspiring me to get better and be better.
Many people spend half their lives wishing that they had done things differently, made smarter choices and decisions, not made so many mistakes, not had so much suffering and pain in their lives. No one and nothing can be perfect. We are humans and make mistakes. The idea is to own responsibility and learn for continuous improvement. The truth is, our mistakes and bad choices don’t limit us, only our fears do. Our suffering and pain are not a curse, but blessings that make us stronger, inspire solid character and courage of conviction.
As unpredictable as our journey of life will always be, it is the suffering, the pain, the adversity, the hardships and the brokenness that strengthens us to create our destiny.
Never forget, every day to which we wake up, is a new life and opportunity to transform, be more and do more. We have a chance every day to redefine and reinvent our life and do whatever we want, to make it right. In the end the only thing stopping you from reaching your full potential, IS YOU.
Never be afraid of your fears and failures. Never dare to think you are not good enough. Because each of you have all the potential within you. Courage is our choice to overcome all fears and face all challenges.
YOU CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS IF YOU CHOOSE TO. Remember it is not faith that moves mountains, but ordinary people with self-trust, who truly move mountains.
Ideas For Action: We need to choose to be good human beings, better citizens of the world, better friends and family members, better sons and children who respect and love our parents, better students who respect our teachers, better learners who learn 2 learn in every moment of life. In life you will always have choices to choose your comfort-zone or walk the path less trodden that challenges your potential. That choice will define your destiny, to be or not to be who you are capable of becoming. Remember in the journey of life, everyone gets broken at some time and more. When broken, most give up and BREAK-DOWN, few persevere and BREAK-THROUGH. Give Yourself a BETTER YOU every day. That is what defines and makes us who we can become!
