*Life poses so many bumps. You have to face a lot of inconveniences, troubles and difficulties to reach your goal. The natural reaction is to avoid all those bumps. But once you start to face them, you find your will power become strong. You become a person of determination. These bumps will make your will power steel-like ready to meet all difficulties and trails in your life.

 As teenagers, you are by now aware of the simple truth that life is full of challenges. If often does not work the way you plan. Unexpected things happen to derail your journey. It does not mean that you should stop your journey and retreat. Then life loses its shine. It loses even its grip.

 Challenges never come with a prior warning. They always come unannounced. You should be on the alert. You should not be caught sleeping. Your education has to prepare you for this task. If that does not happen, education has no meaning.

 Sir Isaac Newton had a pet dog named Diamond. One day a sudden movement by the dog caused a burning candle to fall on the pile of manuscripts. It was reduced to ashes in no time. The manuscripts were the only record of his twenty years of painstaking research. All that Newton did was to stroke the dog gently and say, `Oh Diamond, you do not know what mischief you have done me!’ the setback did not deter him from going ahead with his work. On the other hand, he worked with more zeal to reach his goal.

 Great men and women were determined to face whatever lay ahead of them. They worked hard to achieve their goals. They faced misfortunes and failure on the way but they refused to give up. Whatever came their way, they took it as a challenge Newton did not give up when twenty years of his work was reduced to ashes. On the other hand, he continued to work with renewed vigor.

 A responsible person is one who is bold enough to say in the face of all odds and difficulties.’ I can! I will!’ he moves ahead in spite of failures. Difficulties and failures should be treated as challenges. It is through failures a person learns, improves and finally succeeds. You should not be discouraged by failures. On the other hand you should make a renewed effort to overcome you mistakes. You should turn your obstacles into a stepping –stone to success.

 Ramesh returned home late one evening. He saw a note at the door signed by his great friend Ravi, who had been away for many years. His friend lived in a village eleven kilometers away. Ramesh was keen to meet him. He took out his bicycle but there was very little air its tyre. The sky was dark. There were not even stars.

 As Ramesh proceeded, he felt the bumps. He was almost thrown off the road many times. He had to pedal very carefully. At times the movement was at a snail’s pace. He was not even sure he would be able to meet his friend. With great difficulty he negotiated all the potholes and stones and reached the village. His friend was waiting for him even without sleep. It was a reunion between Ramesh and his –lost friend Ravi. All the difficulties he had to face were worth this meeting.

 Life also poses so many bumps. You have to face a lot of inconveniences, troubles and difficulties to reach your goal. The natural reaction is to avoid all these bumps. But once you start to face them, you find your will power become strong. You become a person of determination. These bumps will make your will power steel-like, ready to meet all difficulties and trials in your life.

 Never let obstacles and failures discourage you. Keep doing your work and success will be yours. Be prepared for the unexpected. If you are a person of will power and determination, nothing can defeat you. Be thankful for the obstacles that come your way, for they prepare you for the bigger unavoidable obstacles you will meet in your life.