I have been greatly inspired by Swami Vivekananda. He was not only a great scholar and saint in the modern times, but also a loving and compassionate human being. He put the interest of humanity above everything else and considered serving the people as a service to God. He taught us to be strong; to never be weak. He inspired people with the call, ‘Arise, awake and don’t stop until the goal is reached’.

Swamiji asked people to respect their values and develop the self. He once said, ‘You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you; none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.’ I have learned a lot from Shri Vivekananda. I follow his teachings by serving the people as best as I can. I learned about Indian values and culture from him, and it makes me proud of my country. He has given me confidence to achieve great things in life through hard work, and by following ethical means. (171 words)