It was one of those animated biology classes, I believe we were reviewing our previous topics of human biology. I already had them on my fingertips and was somewhere far, busy daydreaming.

People say it is a bad habit, but one can take the liberty to daydream at certain times in whichever way one likes. I could imagine myself in the starched-white lab coat, with a stethoscope around my neck, walking down the corridors of a hospital. In the next vision, I found myself wearing scrubs, getting ready for an operation.

As the bell for the next class rang, I was jolted back to reality and I realised that these daydreams are my actual visions for my life. I totally believed that I had everything it takes to be a perfect doctor. Grades have never been a problem. However, there was this requirement of certain hours in community service which I had to fulfil in order to be eligible for my dream college.

Thus, I had signed up for a volunteering service at a hospital. However, it was only on the day my community service hours begun did I realise that I’ll have to sacrifice my winter vacation. Also, I’ll have to wake up earlier than I did for school because the hospital was at a distance. I wondered, ‘Why even bother doing this.’ On second thoughts, I realised it was compulsory and I should be ready for the challenge.

The moment I reached this hospital, my fancy ideas of hospitals and their surroundings somewhat crumbled beneath my feet. This was nothing as I had imagined. The poorest of poor lined up till the roadside to get their turn. Free treatment was worth the long wait and these patients patiently did so.

Still hopeful, I entered the hospital but it again disappointed me as to how they made us tie up our hair and wear those oversized coats while handing out tonnes of rules. This wasn’t the kind of fun I expected!

Before officially beginning our time as a volunteer, we were given a round of the hospital, I was taken aback by the conditions I saw and the patients I encountered. A hospital is no fancy place and these people don’t have it easy. I wondered why I was there and how I could help.

Reluctantly, I took up my duties as a volunteer, which were nothing as I imagined them to be. Who dreams of cleaning the hospital’s record room? But that’s what I had to do. By the end of the day, I was so tired that I didn’t even have the time to think about all that happened in a day. This was my routine for the whole week, I hardly got time to reflect — in between pushing patients on wheelchair, taking the height and weight measures, visiting various wards and interacting with patients, the week suddenly drew to an end.

It was sudden — honestly, because I didn’t realise where the time flew and why I kept coming back every day. However, I was content with my certificate, knowing now I had fulfilled all the requirements for seeking admission in my dream college. It was only later, over the weekend, when I reviewed the past week did I realise that this was more than a requirement. It was a necessity, because I realised my daydreams were simply daydreams, experiencing it out there changed my perception.

Here’s what I concluded, it doesn’t only require perfect grades to become something and attain success. Real success lies in when you empathise with others, you share their pain and sorrow, even if you know you cannot take it away. Success lies in compassion and humility.

All through that week, this was what I witnessed and this is what we need every day to succeed, no matter what profession we choose. Humanity is treated not with degrees and honours, but served with passion, empathy, compassion, humility and the deep desire to help those who need it and do so wholeheartedly.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 7th, 2017