“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
In the stillness of the night, when the world was cloaked in peaceful slumber, my thoughts waged war against each other. It was a battle of desires, ambitions, and doubts, each vying for supremacy over the other. It felt as though the blank canvas of my existence was already splattered with the hues of my peers’ notions. These perplexing emotions sowed seeds of confusion, leading me to question my purpose and identity.
I was always consumed by the idea of discovering myself and indulged in various activities to find my pure purpose in this world that seemed to whirl around me. Yet, I realized that conformity was not my destiny. And then one day, I stumbled upon the concept of “maktub,” a concept I learned from The Alchemist. It said that everything in life is fated to happen based on the choices we make today, and while that sounded odd and contradictory to what I knew before, I knew that this philosophy would change my life.
As I observed the world around me, I began to understand that while my decisions were overseen by a master potter, I still possessed free will. This realization started with simple observations at home, then extended to school, and eventually encompassed the wider world. I understood that I had the freedom to dream and pursue those dreams on my terms, knowing that I had people to support me if I stumbled along the way.
Maktub embodies the idea of surrendering to the flow of life and trusting in the universe to guide us toward our destiny. It is our actions in the present shape what unfolds in the future. We are the creators of ourselves, and it is this creation that defines our uniqueness and ultimately shapes our destiny. It’s not about stumbling upon a pre-existing version of yourself but about forging one from the raw materials of experience, resilience, and imagination.
The lyrics of our school song proclaim, “When we embark on the life we have sought,” that we have allowed our dreams to take flight on wings of thought. Indeed, we are granted the opportunity to dream and create lives that reflect the best qualities of those around us. So, we don’t need to find ourselves; we need to immerse ourselves in our roles, enjoy our journey, and become the architects of our own identities.
I am not merely a version of someone; I am the culmination of people’s best qualities, but it is my choice to pick up those qualities and create my own.
Life, to me, resembles a blank canvas awaiting the strokes of a vibrant palette. It is a canvas awaiting my unique interpretation and expression. In the supportive environment of school, surrounded by encouraging teachers and brilliant leaders, I learned the value of focusing on my efforts and seizing control of my narrative.
Each day presents a blank page, ready to be filled with the narrative of my choosing.
