There are times when many of us look back and think, “If only I had studied in a better school, college, or university — I could have achieved more.” It’s easy to feel disheartened when comparing your journey to others who had greater privileges or smoother starts.
But here’s the truth: while institutional opportunities do make a difference, they are not the only measure of potential or success. Many people who had access to prestigious institutions didn’t use their resources wisely, while others who came from humble backgrounds found a way to rise — using nothing but dedication, discipline, and self-learning.
Today, the Lumiself Lab Team brings you a simple yet powerful checklist — a reminder for anyone feeling discouraged or stuck due to the lack of traditional opportunities.
Ask yourself: How many of these have you done?
The Lumiself Self-Empowerment Checklist
- Have you finished reading 150+ non-fiction books?
- Do you know more than 200 advanced English vocabularies?
- Are you an advanced Excel/Spreadsheet user, skilled in VLOOKUP, logical formulas, data validation, and statistical analysis?
- Have you traveled to more than 50 unique places?
- Do you have at least 6 months of unpaid internship experience?
- Have you built a strong personal or professional network?
- Have you consciously let go of at least one bad habit?
- Do you have good working knowledge of Python and Java?
- Have you come up with at least 3 strong app ideas and published one on the Play Store?
- Do you have a YouTube channel or Facebook page based on your passion with over 50,000 subscribers/followers?
- Have you experimented with at least 2 business ideas, regardless of outcome?
- Do you possess basic survival skills like driving, swimming, cooking, or first aid?
- Do you maintain a decent amount of savings in your bank account?
- Are your presentation and communication skills polished and effective?
- Do you have an interesting hobby or skill that others admire?
- Can you speak another language fluently, along with a convincing accent?
- Do you have the emotional maturity to say sorry and forgive others when needed?
Final Thought: What Really Defines You
Now, reflect. How many boxes can you check?
If the answer is “a few” or “many” — you’re already on a transformative path. And if the answer is “not yet” — that’s okay. It simply means your journey is still unfolding. But what matters most is this:
The person who shapes your future is not your school or your surroundings. It is you.
And for those who had access to great schools, colleges, or universities — ask yourself: Did they really get the time, motivation, or grit to do all the things listed above?
Most likely not. So never curse your fate. Instead, turn your focus inward and start chasing your dreams with renewed belief. You are not less — you are just getting started.
