From Struggle to Strength: How Psychology Became My Lifelong Companion

For most of my school life, I was that student, the one who tried incredibly hard but always fell short. Despite being sincere, disciplined, and endlessly hardworking, subjects like science, math, and even Hindi felt like insurmountable mountains. No matter how many hours I studied, the results never matched my effort.

As the poor marks kept piling up, so did the judgment. Teachers, relatives, peers—all had their opinions, and none of them were kind. I was constantly labelled “weak,” or “hopeless.” These experiences crushed my self-worth. I began to believe there was something fundamentally wrong with me and that I am not good enough.

But life has a funny way of surprising us.

In grade 11, everything changed with the turn of a page, literally! I was introduced to psychology for the first time. I still remember finishing the first chapter and sitting there, heart racing, with a feeling I had never experienced before: clarity.

This subject spoke to me. It wasn’t just interesting; it was meant for me. For the first time in my academic life, something made sense. I didn’t have to memorize formulas or translate poems; I simply understood. It felt like psychology had been patiently waiting for me to find it, and the moment I did, I knew, I had found my calling.

Fast forward twenty-six years, and that love has only grown. Psychology is no longer just a subject I study; it’s the lens through which I view the world and myself. It helped me understand the roots of my low self-esteem, my shyness, and my tendency to stay silent. With each concept I learned, I healed a little more, grew a little stronger.

But the road wasn’t easy. When I chose psychology for my undergraduate degree in 2001, most people around me scoffed. “What will you do with this degree”, they’d ask with condescending smiles. “Treat mad people?” someone once said. Others joked about me and asked if I would move to Agra, as the only place ill get a job would be at Agra’s mental asylum. The stigma and sarcasm were endless.

Until then, I had always been quiet and non-confrontational, the kind who listened but never spoke up. But something changed. For the first time in my life, I felt a fire within, a voice that said, “This is yours. Don’t give it up.” I promised myself I wouldn’t quit, no matter what anyone said. I knew psychology and I were meant to walk this path together.

In 2006, I completed my master’s degree. Life followed with marriage, work, and motherhood. But I never let go of that my dream to earn a PhD in Psychology. And in 2023, after years of perseverance, that dream came true. I became Dr. Vidhi Mahanot, a title I once believed was out of reach for someone like me.

Looking back, I see how deeply psychology has shaped my journey. It helped me build self-esteem, develop self-compassion, and embrace my authentic self. It gave me not just a career, but an identity and a voice.

Psychology was my turning point. My silent cheerleader. My mirror and my anchor.

And after all these years, it remains my first true love, consistently guiding me in every way.