The number 1 has undoubtedly carved a unique identity and authority in the human life cycle. It is so deeply ingrained and etched in an individual’s life that it signals its strong presence the moment we enter the planet earth with our 1st Cry, our 1st step our 1st school our 1st degree our 1st job and so on! It would not be far removed from the truth if we said that it is born with us and dies with us, having lived the life and significance that we attach to it. 

The lure of its attainment shapes itself along with us in our initial formative years when the only clarity which our childish impressionable mind perceives, is this number and how blessed we would be when our report cards, our sports activities and races would be adorned by its presence. We learn that this number is the conjoined twin of celebration, revelry and praise, and that’s why we begin the self-consuming journey of its pursuit and attainment.

As we move on in our life journey we saddle ourselves with the heavy bag of number 1 that governs all our thought s and actions and although invisible remains omnipresent. Its’ all-pervasive presence continues as we move on in years - strong and defined but with a shift in position, it moves on from school report cards to graduation mark sheets to that coveted no 1 job, to the fancy car, luxurious house, first-class travel, attaching itself ominously to all our needs thereafter, never leaving our side even though we progress from childhood to adulthood to maturity and old age. My thoughts and actions too at one time were governed by this superior being but as I advanced in my career and in years the wisdom of “you cannot see the true picture till you are in the frame” started dawning upon me. It’s time for you too as students to now take a step back, for a moment dissociate yourself from the achievements, successes and failures and think rationally with your head firmly on your shoulders. Think and reflect on all the successes you have had, the times when you were number 1 and the times that you weren’t. Did it make you a higher mortal with the no 1 tag and a lesser one without? You will be surprised at the answer …. The moment you start redefining success and failure, so why don’t we dwell upon it here and start voicing it out now? There is no denying the fact that when we were number 1 we enjoyed the glory, success the appreciation that came with it, and when we weren’t lucky enough to be no 1 the dejection and sorrow were long lasting with the stamp of defeat on us. So where did we fail? Where did we go wrong? We failed not in achieving the number tag but in failing to understand that we put in our best. We failed to appreciate our efforts, we failed to draw lessons from our experiences and treat them as learning opportunities. We failed to get inspired by the various people we met on our journey, we failed to appreciate them and their achievements, we remained self-focused, self-centred and narrow visioned blinkered on number 1.  

 While it is good to always strive for the best and aspire for No 1 as a strong motivator in life, it is good to be charged and geared up for achieving nothing less than the best at all times, but we need to draw a fine line and never permit this entity to hold us glued to it. Let us not allow it to control our existence to such an extent that we are oblivious to everything else. Let us for a change not do what others want us to do let us just be positive individuals be inspired by our own dreams in which 1 is definitely present but does not play an all-consuming role. 

  Let us learn to enjoy our efforts and the journey itself. Let not the green monster of envy rear its ugly head when we see others walking away with it. Let us continue to put in our best and believe that we are capable of executing brilliantly whatever we undertake and work on. The underlying principle in my opinion of success is not in the numbers , be it 1, 2 or 3 but the satisfaction of doing a job right, the self satisfaction of investing more than 100% of your efforts into your studies , your tasks, without your vision being clouded by the silhouette of no 1.

  We must imbibe the new definition of your upward mobility, guided by the navigation tools of self-worth, righteousness, dedication, hard work and not by numbers of attainment prefixed by people. So continue doing your best, feeling happy about what you are and will be doing. Let this then, become your mark and measure of success, your prized possession, something that you hand out to yourself periodically and not a lifeless heirloom titled No 1, the all-consuming desire of which has been handed over to you by your ancestors or your friends and colleagues. You should set your mind on achievements sans the title 1 and if it comes your way learn to rejoice and accept it but if it doesn’t learn to rejoice in your efforts without the shadow of dejection. You must strive hard and aim for the best but the no 1 should not be the be all and end all of your existence. We must make a conscious effort to enjoy every opportunity that life and particularly student life gives us, utilize it to our learning advantage and not become a mere participant in the “Rat Race. “ Always bear in mind - 

“The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win you are still a rat – Lily Tomlin “

                                                                              Shabnam Asthana