Take Responsibility and Do What You Can: A Journey of Perseverance and Growth

Life often throws unexpected challenges our way, testing our resolve and patience. The lesson I learned through my personal journey is simple yet profound: take responsibility for what you can control—and then do what you can. This mindset is not about waiting for perfect conditions or searching for immediate results, but about committing fully to the journey itself.

The Early Dreams and Relentless Effort (2021)

In 2021, while completing my bachelor's degree in India, I aspired to study abroad for my thesis. I spent six months cold-emailing professors worldwide, facing rejection after rejection. At the time, I didn’t understand it, but that process was part of the journey—learning resilience and persistence. Eventually, a professor in Germany offered me an opportunity, even funding my visit. This was a breakthrough—until COVID-19 struck.

The pandemic shattered plans worldwide. My visa application was initially rejected due to a technicality, and the second wave left no room for hope as borders closed and uncertainty reeled through everyday life. I couldn’t go and had to complete my thesis online.

From Setbacks to Success: The Long Road (2022–2023)

The following year, I dedicated six more months to securing admission into a prestigious master’s program abroad. Success came in January 2023. The dream of studying overseas was finally within reach.

But life wasn’t done testing me. Visa regulations changed unexpectedly, requiring extra certifications. The processing delay stretched over five grueling months. I was stuck—no job, no studies, depleting my savings, and forced to defer my semester after paying fees for a course I could not attend. Seven months later, I finally attained my visa and arrived at the university just days after classes began.

What This Taught Me: Focus on What You Can Control

This journey was exhausting and frustrating. Waiting for circumstances beyond my control to change felt helpless at times. But it also taught me a vital truth:

You may not control the world around you, but you always control your actions and attitude.

In that period of uncertainty, I learned patience like never before. I cultivated meaningful friendships with others who shared similar struggles—people who are still standing strong beside me today. I took an internship at a coffee shop and absorbed everything I could about business operations and event management. I kept learning, growing, and preparing for what was next.

These experiences reminded me that doing what you can—right now, with what you have—is the only way forward. Dwelling on what you cannot control is a dead end. Real progress comes from embracing responsibility for your efforts, taking consistent action, and having faith in the process even when results don’t come immediately.

It’s this mindset, this commitment to doing what you can, that transforms obstacles into stepping stones. Nothing else works.

The world can be unfair and unpredictable. But like the shepherd Santiago in The Alchemist, success comes not from obsessing over the outcome but from doing the work every day, taking responsibility for your effort regardless of immediate results.

As Frank Sinatra’s song goes, “You’re flying high in April, shot down in May—that’s life.” It’s about persistence—the willingness to keep going even when the path gets rocky.

The Power of Responsibility and Action

Taking responsibility is a powerful mindset. It transforms victims of circumstance into empowered individuals who find ways forward despite obstacles. It means:

Recognizing what’s within your power—your decisions, your work ethic, your attitude

Accepting setbacks as part of the journey, not reasons to quit

Committing to consistent effort without the constant need for validation or immediate success

Embracing patience when progress isn't visible but continuing nevertheless

Final Thoughts

If this story resonates, remember: life will test your patience and perseverance. You won’t always have control, but you do have choices. The key is to focus on what you can control and act on it relentlessly.

Take responsibility for your journey, just like Santiago did—not chasing elusive results but dedicating yourself to the path. The rest will follow.

Do what you can. No excuses. No dwelling. Just steady, responsible action.