External validation
I realised I was an addict when I was in the 10th grade, an addict of external validation. I was caught in an endless cycle of seeking approval from others. My entire self-worth was based on other's perception of me and my accomplishments. I had the impression that there was an invisible chain around my neck, limiting my choices to those that others deemed appropriate. Amid the pandemic, however, I began to question if I had set the right goals for myself. And for the first time, I began to comprehend the importance of self validation and decided to fabricate my own path in life rather than conforming to societal norms. In the 11th grade, I used my start at a new school as a fresh beginning. Instead of studying medicine or engineering, as expected by others, I followed my conscious and started aligning my aptitude and interest by choosing psychology. I quit playing Inline Hockey after realizing I wasn't passionate about it and began playing Basketball, a sport I genuinely enjoyed. I began reading non-academic books in class during my free time, which I was mocked for at first because I was the only one doing so but soon after, few of my classmates approached me and expressed their interest in reading, which boosted my confidence. Within two months, I formed a book club of 15 students, and together, we organized a book donation drive (donating around 500 books to underprivileged children), as well as a fund-raising drive (selling books and using the donation funds to help