New Delhi [India], August 8: Sometimes life doesn’t test us by taking away our dreams. Sometimes, it tests us by taking away the people we wanted to celebrate those dreams with.
I grew up in a middle-class family in West Bengal, where I learnt the value of hard work and sacrifice early. My father ran a small catering business and believed education could change our family’s future. While pursuing my graduation, I gave tuition classes to reduce the burden on my parents. Later, I completed my MBA in HR and Marketing and began my career in education.
Then COVID-19 changed everything. I lost my job and, like many others, faced an uncertain future. To support my family, I joined my father’s catering business. Around the same time, a friend introduced me to a digital marketing workshop.
Not everyone supported the decision. Many told me that online careers were unreliable and that I would eventually give up.
My father was the exception. He told me, “Keep learning. Skills never betray the person who keeps practising.”Those words became the foundation of my upcoming chapter. Learning digital marketing wasn’t easy. I spent many nights studying, practising, failing, and starting again. Instead of seeking instant success, I asked for the willpower to keep going. Slowly, lessons became skills. Skills enhanced confidence and confidence created opportunities.
Why Skills Matter More Than Ever. My MBA gave me knowledge, but practical skills gave me opportunities. That distinction is increasingly important in 2026. Artificial intelligence and rapidly evolving technology are transforming the workplace, making flexibility and ongoing learning more valuable than ever.
A degree remains important, but it is no longer the finish line. Employers increasingly value people who can solve problems, communicate effectively, adapt to change, and keep learning.
The ability to learn may be the most future-proof skill of all. Today, I have the privilege of helping others build practical digital skills and regain confidence in themselves. Every message saying, “I earned my first income,” reminds me why I kept going.
But there is one bittersweet element of this journey.My father never lived long enough to see it. He never saw the opportunities those late nights created. He never met the people I now help. He never got to hear me say, “You were right.”
That is the part of the story that hurts the most. All the achievement I have today carries a piece of his belief in me. And if my journey has revealed me anything, it is this: jobs can disappear, but skills stay with you.
So spend an hour each day learning something that creates value. One skill can open a door. One decision to learn can change a career. Sometimes, that one decision can change a life.
Keep learning. Keep practising. Keep moving forward. Because the people who believe in our dreams may not always be there to see them come true, but their belief can stay with us forever.
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Curious about turning digital skills into real opportunities? There’s more to explore.
Disclaimer: Views expressed above are the author’s own and do not reflect the publication’s views.
