Post by Lavanya Uppal

Today I learned a difficult but important lesson. I was really looking forward to participating in a poetry competition and sharing my work. Unfortunately, due to a payment issue that wasn’t resolved in time, I couldn’t submit my poems. What made it harder was the lack of support that I got instead of guidance, I was simply asked to keep refreshing the form. It was disappointing. But it also taught me something valuable. The world won’t always pause for your problems. It can be harsh, sometimes unfair, and still expect you to keep moving forward. Experiences like these may shake your confidence, but they also build resilience. This was a reminder to be more mindful and careful while choosing the organizations and platforms we associate with. At the same time, it reinforced the importance of staying persistent and not letting one setback silence your voice. The poems didn’t go out this time , but they will find their place soon.