Tribune News Service Amritsar July 13 As a young Kathak dancer who aspired for something big in life Shruti Chandel had always believed in taking the lead and not waiting for a chance. A gold medallist in MA (Classical Dance) from GNDU and a theatre artiste who had worked with national and international artistes Shruti was destined for a career in creative arts until she decided otherwise. “I moved to Mumbai with hopes of working with artistes of national repute but soon realised that it wasnt my calling” she said. She now works as a full-time motivational speaker focusing on improving the lives of kids from marginalised sections. “I was doing my bit in the field of dance and theatre when the pandemic struck and I realised that there were so many among us who lost more than just their social contact. There were kids who lost an opportunity to educate themselves peoples livelihood was affected. Something in me was triggered and I started going out to neighbourhoods that had poor families just talking to them about their struggles. Later I was approached by some NGOs that were doing relief work and wanted me to talk to kids especially the underprivileged ones” she says. She mostly talks about mental health menstrual health among women personality development and takes music and dance therapy sessions. Since early this year she has had sessions at government schools Pingalwara-run institutions GNDU and has been invited at Government Medical College special schools and NGOs including Missiondeep. But life as a motivational speaker she says is not easy. “It is a profession that is yet to get its due. Most people do not take it seriously and do not know that motivational speakers are professionals who work on power of persuasion. So you do not get paid most of the times. But then the only thing that drives me is the fact that I have the ability to inspire others and bring out their best version through my communication and creative abilities. Thats enough for now” she says. Her inspiration comes from people in the field including Sandeep Maheswari one of the first ones to use the concept of motivational speaking to change lives.

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