A Lifetime Experience!

Hello,
I am sorry. I know it's been a long time since my last post. But, I have a great story, or should I say, great experience to tell.
Two years ago, I was a student who had passed 10+2 in PCM majors with an average aggregate. Then I became a student who was pursuing B. Engineering in Electronics & Communication, again with an average aggregate. An year passed. I was still a mediocre.
I was sitting at the terrace wall on an unusual evening. It was the evening I cried about what I had become in the last three years by then. It was very unusual. I had never evaluated my self-worth before. I realized there were many things about my life which were not right according to me. I thought a lot about it but I only got more depressed. I called up my friend. He agreed on listening to me. I thought about this all night. Fortunately, I had a clear picture of my problem. I had changed, because of my family, friends, relatives and all those narrow minded people who thought that a person can be successful on becoming only a doctor or an engineer. I don't know what had happened to the Sneha who once was so determined to take the less traveled path. How could I ever forget the lines of my favorite poem 'The Road Not Taken' ?
I always knew that I was not born to be a mediocre.
I then decided to come back and take the other path. A path which was made for me. I gathered some courage and asked my father to let me change my field of graduation from Engineering to Design. I got the answer I expected, No. My ideas and my ambition were strong. I asked him again. He didn't even look at me for a couple of days. I was ready to explain what I was going through, only if he could ever give me a chance.
One day he did give me a chance. I explained everything to him. It took long for him to understand but he agreed on giving me a chance to prove my talent.
I met an artist who also gave career guidance to students who wanted to pursue Design. She encouraged me to draw and paint. I could not believe myself when I realized that I could do that well! I gave IGD exam with efforts. I was smiling.. (after a long time.)
Another evening, when I came home, my father was sitting in the living room. I sensed there was something wrong. I regret the fact that I was right. He coldly told me that I have been asked to give huge amount of money to my Engg college administration in order to discontinue. I was shattered.
I joined my college again. I was sinking in the void of my life. My dream meant a lot to me. I did not give up on that. I used to visit the artist whenever I could. I did practice, but seldom. She used to scold me for that. After sometime I came to know that I had to give my semester exams. It was a dull morning, life seemed to go nowhere. I could not memorize anything. I went to attend my tution class and I fainted there. I co-operated through all the tests. Result was normal. Where was the problem then? Even I was unaware of the damage this depression was causing me. My dad could not see me in this situation neither could he let me discontinue engg.
He started scrolling through my sketchbooks. He says, he could not believe his eyes when he saw my work.
All my relatives were against me. People used to say, "You cannot do this because you don't have enough talent". They accused me of causing pain to my parents. I silently heard to all this and kept everything in my mind. There was a time when my friend gave up on me because i was confused between engg and design. I always promised to everyone and myself, "I will surely get through all the design exams that I appear in and I will secure 1st rank in state and under 10th all-India!"
I asked my parents to let me sit for the competetive exams for the entrance of design colleges. They allowed me to but I did not get enough encouragement or motivation. I was determined to prove my worth. I sat for an exam and hoped for positive results. It took long but I found that I did well. Although, I did not know my rank.
I started recieving call-letters from various colleges. I met my teacher(the same artist) again. She asked me to sit for another exam. I was scared to. I had not practiced since November 2008 and now it was May 2009. She asked me to visit her and practice basic sketching. I could not devote my time there because I had to sit for my Engg Exams. I was asked to give these exams because my parents did not have faith in me and did not want me to neglect my college which I will be continuing if I don't get through design entrance exam. I somehow managed to excel in my college exams which made my parents happy. So, they were ready to take me to Delhi and let me sit for the exam. But, I hadn't practiced enough. I was too tensed.
It was the afternoon of 16th May, I sat down for working on my portfolio and simultaneously, practiced sketching. My exam was on 18th May. I left Bhopal on the hot 17th afternoon with a determination of never looking back. I felt that God is with me all the time. It started raining. It was a sign that things were changing. I met a lady who was a co-pasenger in the train. she was reading a book on general knowledge. When she came to know that I was appearing in an entrance exam, she offered me to read the GK book she had. It was very sweet of her. I read a few things and then returned the book to her. I started reading a magzine which my friend gave me at station just before i left. I read a few things there and then went to sleep. We(me and my dad) reached New delhi and then the design college. I gave the exam and the most awaited moment of my life came to me. I could not believe my ears when I heard that I had secured 10th rank all-India and 1st rank in state! I could not stop myself from crying. that day even dad had tears in his eyes.. He hugged me and said, "I am sorry beta(my child). Main teri kshamta pehchaan nahi paya(I could not recognise your capabilities). I am proud of you!".