Bhavisha Sheth - Chief Officer for SHINE University of Self-Expression, Victor Manickam Knowledge Group | BMS (Marketing) | Digital Marketing Certification Course - Pursuing

I was born in a family of 13 people. As the youngest amongst them, I lacked identity because there was always someone who would’ve done or experienced something before me. Growing up in a situation like this, whenever I tried to express myself, I was told I am young and was always taken lightly. After 3 years I finally had someone younger to me, my cousin Udit. I made sure that I protect him and never let him feel any less important just because he was the youngest. But soon we shifted and even that feeling of being useful to someone was gone. Due to suppressing my expression for so long now, I lost trust in people around me and concluded that my voice does not matter and felt completely useless.

As I entered college, I began to look for validation so that I can make my identity and regain my lost voice. It was a pool of opportunities and I took up all of them in order to prove myself. Being the kind of person present for everyone, everywhere and every time, I got that validation, but the hunger to prove myself was still not satisfied.

College ended and so did that pool of opportunities. With nothing to validate myself, I lost every bit of confidence in myself. That is when the most liberating experience entered my life - My exchange program in Europe.

Being all alone was never something I had done. When I landed in Prague, a city where no one understood what I was trying to say, I was scared to my gut. But staying there for over a month, I got comfortable with other participants around me. The real challenge was when I began my solo trip from Amsterdam. All I did for 2 days there was cry and questioned everything about myself. What changed everything for me, was my obsession to be on the top of the Eiffel Tower when I reached Paris. As soon as I was on the top of the Eiffel Tower, I experienced bliss and complete peace. That is when I realised this was a metaphor for me. Doing something all by myself helped me discover that lost confidence and made me value my own voice. I no longer felt the need for validation from others.

This experience formed the foundation of my journey of discovering myself. I returned home after being able to fully express myself to the world. To continue this journey, I did my Program for Life where I discovered the distinct me. But the distinct me, got completion during Fellowship where I experienced oneness. I understood that to be distinct, I do not have to force myself to be separate from others. My harshness on self changed to love and compassion for self. In the presence of love, I felt peace in spite of constant internal conflicts. And with this compassion I wish to empower myself & others, which is the purpose of my life.

People I am Inspired by: Paulo Coehlo, Dan Fogelman

Favourite Movies/TV Series: About Time, Tamasha, This Is Us (TV Series)

Who Am I: Peace | World I am In: Bringing Love

Legacy: Empowerment | Purpose: Empowering People

Reason I exist: Bringing peace and love by empowering others | My Contribution: Listening

I Am: Compassion