By Ujesh Nada, 24
Almost a year ago, 24 Jan 2019, I went for the USA F-1 visa interview after failing on my first attempt. The interview went well and I was sure that this time I will make a score. But in the end, the counsellor just said - sorry, better luck next time!!. I was upset and furiously took my documents & left from there. I didn't even check whether I took all my documents or not. I was a scholar and for the first time in life, I was getting rejection after rejection. Dreams which I & my family saw, started fading away due to the single word of counsellor 'Sorry'. I couldn't even cry because my friend Dharmik was with me. He somehow dragged me out of the depressing situation, consoling with the words" maybe your future will be far better here than there"
Right after my rejection, I was selected in a course which was fully sponsored by the 'Gujarat Tourism Department ' this is the same course for which I was going to spend 25 lakhs in America. During that course, I made a musical film on 'Ahmedabad ' which was selected in Ahmedabad Film Festival & the second one 'Garvi Gujarat' got a standing ovation from all the fellow participants & Guests. I still remember, my mentor & special guest, rewarded me with a title of 'Show stopper'. Never in my dreams, I expected such a response, that date was 24 March, right after 2 months of my rejection. Not only that, but I was also selected as 'Yes Fellow' social initiative by 'Yes Bank' and got a chance to make a documentary on 'Gandhi Ashram'. Once again my film was selected in the top 5 films. Meanwhile, I was also selected in - Byju's, and everything was settling down and lastly, I did Jagriti Yatra. At the end of 2019, I went on this Yatra which aimed at 'Building India through Enterprise ', I travelled the whole of India with 500 other Entrepreneurs and saw real India - Rural India.
Recently, in the corona pandemic, thousands of people lost their job in America, especially in the Entertainment industry and if I would have been selected last year then I would have spent 30 lakhs .....for what???? for sitting on a couch under four walls and a roof. Failing is obviously a heart-wrenching thing but in that difficult situation my family, friends even MY COUNTRY helped me. Always remember, if there is hope, there is away.