Veera advises SEA students: Embrace challenges to reach success

Veera Bhajan who was born without arms but overcame all obstacles to earn a law degree has admitted that she had a problem accepting her disability. As a pre-teen, Bhajan said, she always compared herself to the person sitting next to her.
“...For every single person around me had arms and I didn’t,” she said. She advised young people that they should never undermine their worth by comparing themselves to others.

“Always remember that you are all different in special ways...You can only be you by accepting who you are,” she said. “I say this because I know how many problems I had accepting my disability...and how I was.” Bhajan, however, said had it not been for her parents, who she described as the backbone of her successs, her life would have collapsed.

“My parents are my role models. For they taught me not just the importance of having an education, but all the valuable lessons that no school or university has taught me...and that is to be the best that I can be.” Bhajan praised God for giving her strength every day to fight life’s challenges. She imparted these words of inspiration when she delivered the feature address at the 19th edition of the Eastern Credit Union (ECU) Education Awards in St Joseph on August 10.

The awards were presented to 53 Secondary Entrance Assessment students. Vice president and chairman of the Education and By-laws Committee of the ECU Gloria Rolingston suggested that copies of Bhajan’s speech be given to all awardees, stating that this would go a long way in motivating and encouraging the young ones.

Bhajan shared her trials and tribulations with the students, telling them that she was able to achieve her dreams because she had a vision for herself—to become an attorney. “I had dreams for myself and I made those dreams come true...I was able to do so with two less limbs than you have,” she said. She urged the students to make the best of every opportunity presented to them.

“While on your journey you will face numerous challenges which you must embrace. For I have used every single challenge that I faced as an opportunity to grow, learn and to become a better person. Nothing is really over until we stop trying. For me, trying my best meant digging deep inside me and finding my strength and abilities and using it to my full potential.” Bhajan said failure should never be part of one’s life. “Worry about the chances you would miss if you did not try.”

She believed that a person’s attitude was everything. “Attitude is greater than any other obstacle you will face in your life. For I would not have been standing here if it was not for my positive attitude.” Insisting that students will encounter circumstances they would not be able to control, Bhajan said though she was born without arms, “that is a challenge and circumstance that can never change.” The students were also advised to complain less since they are more fortunate than other children.

“Despite the fact that I may not have arms, I am blessed with my feet, brains, abilities, senses and a family,” Bhajan said. All those blessings, she said, gave her encouragement to get up every day and put her shoulders to the wheel. In life, Bhajan said, people will criticise. “I really wish I could tell you it will be easy. For I had to change a lot of challenges to reach success. What I can say is that we don’t need easy...we simply need possible. The difference between possible and impossible is belief.”