Following your heart is an adventure trip that takes you down unexpected paths, guided by your passions and dreams. It’s about trusting your gut, even when the road ahead looks tough. By listening to your inner voice, you create a life that’s genuinely your own, filled with meaning and purpose.
Mayank Singh is a 26-year-old Assistant Manager at UpGrad.
With his roots in Lucknow, UP, Mayank’s childhood was spent moving around India due to his father’s job as a chartered accountant. His early years of childhood were spent mainly in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
“I was always interested in teaching people more than the act of studying itself.”
Since the age of 14, he has been teaching, a passion that has now infused into his career. Today, as a content creator and Assistant Manager at UpGrad, Mayank considers himself a teacher at heart, creating e-learning and instructor-led content for corporate professionals to empower themselves with new skills.
Despite completing a B.Tech in data science from a tier-three college, Mayank’s heart always leaned towards teaching. He always made it a point to follow his passions and found solace in doing them.
“I was a good student academically and participated in everything from debates, swimming, boating, and drawing competitions.”
He loved participating in various activities, and his extroverted nature shone through in his love for giving speeches and leading activities. These experiences have had a significant place in shaping his personality. Apart from his professional life, Mayank has also found joy in music.
“I learned how to play instruments like the guitar and Casio and became an expert in them.”
His family, consisting of his parents and younger sister, has always been his support system.
Mayank first heard about YourDOST during his time at Lovely Professional University. Later, he availed the same services from UpGrad, which partnered with YourDOST as their official mental health partner.
As the President of the first batch of the Silver Lining Foundation at his university, Mayank initiated a movement to bring YourDOST services to his college. Dr Tanishka, his counsellor at YourDOST, played a crucial role in his journey.
“She was one of my earliest counsellors and navigated our conversations with patience and a solution-oriented approach.”
Transitioning into corporate life brought its own set of challenges, along with personal issues. These events led to severe anxiety, making it difficult for Mayank to interact with others. He felt a lack of connection to anyone around him and confined himself to the four walls of his home. The personal and professional issues suddenly accelerated, making it difficult for him to be social.
“I faced a situation in life, a very difficult time, to be honest, where I was unable to hold or start a conversation with anyone at all. I began staying away from people and stayed indoors for a long while.”
This withdrawal from social interactions and the outside world was a turning point in his life. He realised that it was high time he sought therapy and turned to YourDOST for help.
Dr Tanishka’s approach was methodical and empathetic. She gave Mayank various activities and homework to address his inherent fears.
“For example, she would ask more and more explorative questions during sessions to get to the root of things. Those questions helped me understand myself better than I ever expected.”
One of her techniques involved writing down his thoughts, like solving a math question by reading it three times. This approach helped Mayank understand and face his issues better.
“Dr Tanishka helped me understand the benefits of physical activities, and she was why I even purchased gym equipment and started doing those activities.”
The positive changes in Mayank’s life were significant. He began going out more, meeting people, and making new friends. Within a year and a half, these improvements helped him grow in personal maturity.
“I would feel very light-hearted, and most importantly, I have a new path to travel. Thank you is too little to say as I have immense respect and gratitude for Dr Tanishka.”
In terms of feeling better, Mayank rates himself a 4 out of 5. Comparing his present self to six months ago, he sees significant improvement and growth.
We are proud of Mayank for being the torchbearer of mental health since his college years, and we wish him the best in the future!
Mayank’s Warrior Tips:
1.“To the folks who haven’t given therapy a try, it is worth it.”
2.“Seeking therapy is only scary till the beginning of the first session.”
Are you someone who has gone through a difficult phase and emerged stronger and better, with some professional help? Share your story with us to encourage thousands of others who might be struggling. Click here to submit your story.
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