Good Morning!
Everyday bubbly energetic peppy voice over the FM radio. Any city in any country. The fizz is the same. Many of us tune into the FM to keep abreast of the news, entertainment, information, challenges, fun and everything super pleasant.
RJ Sheetal is one of those voices who lifts your day when it’s sliding down. Her story could be that of any of us, however, the difference is she adhere till the end to make it happen.
RJ Sheetal always wanted to be a professor. Many of us are so enamored by our teachers that we see ourselves standing there, conducting a class and being the teacher who knows all. Sheetal was blessed with a great voice with a texture of confidence, knowledge of the subject because of her reading habits was her plus points.
Sheetal was born and brought up in Rajkot, Gujarat. She has completed her M.Com. Her father is a retired central government employee and her mother is a homemaker. She has four siblings (sisters). With dreams of becoming a professor, Sheetal completed her M.Com and intended to pursue B.Ed, M.Ed and the ultimate PhD.
Fate has its own ways of working its way thru. Sheetal was enjoying her M.Com vacations, her sister was selected as an RJ with Radio Mirchi. A vacancy came up for an RJ position in the same Radio station. This is before FM went on air – Radio Mirchi, Rajkot had a vacancy. She flatly refused to even try as she was not interested. But because of the family’s insistence, she went for the lark and gave the interview. Not surprising she cleared all the three rounds. Guess when the pressure of landing the job for financial or any other requirement is not there – the confidence just shoots to the sky. It was this inner confidence in spirit and voice that helped her get selected for the position.
Still a bit confused, however, her family asked her to give it a try and not let go of such a great opportunity. Sheetal joined Radio Mirchi in Rajkot as an RJ. Even after one and a half year she still was not sure if this was the right place for her.
As with any new job, the initial part is a bit difficult. Her ability and inclination to learn and improve herself technically, besides her positive confident attitude, creative bend of mind made things a bit easy. She reached a point where, she accepted the fact that this is really not bad, but it was good for her as by then had started enjoying her job. Getting an early morning slot in winter was not the best part, but she as everyone managed to be there at work irrespective of the weather.
Sheetal ensured she did her job perfectly, even if some areas were not really to her liking or interest. A mixed bag as all jobs are. With a never give up attitude, Sheetal got her jobs done to the end.
A bit of that was because she was a Senior Under Officer and commander of her battalion in NCC. Discipline, punctuality and following rules were what she learned from the NCC training. These training practices stay with you for life and make you a better human being.
Sheetal is the recipient of the Naari Gaurav Award, Mahila Gaurav Award, Rex KarmveerAward(Delhi), she was nominated at Trance Media Award(Mumbai) for the best Gujarati drama actress, won National Olympiad Daram Competition(Cuttak).
Being an RJ, the chance to make a difference in the city comes with support. Sheetal engaged in an activity of identifying speed breakers on roads without the white strips and getting them painted. She also with the help of her listeners visited placed that had garbage dumbs during festivals cleaned. Planting trees activity where she managed to have more than 50,000 trees in the city.
The ideal of her life that Sheetal followed is nothing in particular. Just be yourself and do good and get inspired by great people who have done great work. Some of the people she admires are Gal Gadot, Rees Witherspoon, Vidhya Balan, Ophra Winfrey, Eliza Gilbert, KalkiKochlin, Michel Obama, Dipika Padukone”
Be confident, learn by way of reading and being aware are the ways that you can make a difference both personally and professionally is what she believes in.
Karma and spirituality are what she believes in. Solo travel is also something she enjoys. It’s liberating and a great way to learn. She would indulge in sports and adventures. A skydive jump from 13K feet is one of her high points. A certified healer, Sheetal has traveled to 15 countries, 13 Indian states and 4 Union Territories.
Sheetal loves one space the best …..and that is seated on her terrace with black tea and a wedge of lemon and watching the sunset. She loves to cycle to the Nyari Dam to see the sunrise – amazing ways to start the day!
