This story is about an exam known as CENTA, a competency assessment for teachers widely accepted by governments and private institutions for its rigor. It is an olympiad for the teachers and it was made compulsory to give by the institution I work in.

Every day in 2022, I used to write in my journal to attract the results I desired by writing sentences like, “I have cleared the CENTA exam, and I am in the top 100.”’ In that year, I did not clear the exam and then I stopped writing because of my routine and did not even think about it.

Then again this year, I had to appear for this exam. First, the prelims, which I had already cleared two years ago. Then I gave the final exam, which I gave without any expectations but I gave it my best.

Come August, the results were declared and my colleague told me to check the results, and guess what?! I got 68th rank worldwide along with a cash prize of ₹ 5000! My first thought was ‘Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” That took me back to my gratitude journal that I used to write in. I just thought that I had forgotten my dream but the universe didn’t.

Blessed and grateful always!