My 1st year as an NCC cadet: boots, drills and memories

FROM OBESITY TO START OF AN UNFORGETTABLE   JOURNEY : BEGINING OF THE CHANGE  It started when I was 8, as a lonely and shy girl who loved eating and watching cartoons. Growing up, I was heavier than most kids my age so....making friends or talking to other people was never my thing as I was always excluded from their groups and was always looked down upon, due to which I lacked self esteem, confidence and other developmental skills any child possessed. I often went and cried to my mom saying how everyone teased and bullied me for my appearance. Now that I'm a grown up I can handle such situations well but as a child hearing and experiencing all this everytime really broke and hurt me. My parents were very understanding and supportive, so growing up the only place I always felt at peace was at my house. Sometimes I would go and play with the children in my neighborhood but as usual I was always removed from the game since I was a slow runner. My parents were worried becaus...

Joining NCC in the first year felt like signing up for an adventure movie… without knowing the full script. On the very first day, we stood in lines, confused, excited, and secretly wondering, “Why is everyone shouting left, right, left?”  From struggling to wear the uniform properly to learning how to stand absolutely still in attention, everything was new. The drills were tiring, the sun was unforgiving, but the feeling of marching together in sync? Honestly, unbeatable. There was something special about being part of a team where everyone moves, learns, and sometimes gets punished together. NCC is not only teaching us how to march or salute; it is teaching us confidence, responsibility, and pride. My first year is turning out to be a mix of sweat, laughter, mistakes, and achievements. Looking back, joining NCC was one of the best decisions. Its not only giving me memories — its giving me a new version of myself. Unity and Discipline!