Published on February 27th, 2021 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

Conscience, the Wakeup Call to Human Will

Each person has their own struggles in life. Because of these struggles, humans learn to overcome and bear the hardships that they go through. Unfortunately, sometimes the struggles and limitations become so overwhelming that people give up. When people lose their will to do something, their dreams and future plans simply go out of the window. It becomes almost impossible to achieve them as the person has been strained mentally. In such situations, the soul of the person becomes restless, which shakes up the human conscience. It is because of the human conscience that people get back on track. Similar is the story of T.M.R.P.K. Tennakoon. Hailing from a small village in Srilanka, this man, who is currently employed at N.A.S.A., is the epitome of determination and persistence.

T.M.R.P.K. Tennakoon belonged to a family that struggled to make ends meet. Although his childhood was tough, his studies were never compromised. T.M.R.P.K. observed the environment around him; nothing and nobody motivated him to become a better person in life. He was surrounded by poverty-stricken people who spent their lives earning nominal wages, but T.M.R.P.K. did not want to do that. It was this dull environment that kept him driven for his purpose to be successful and have a better life.

Determination can make people do wonders, and the story of T.M.R.P.K. proves it. He had nothing to inspire him or keep him going except his talent for remembering things. He held on to this talent and achieved whatever he has in life today. Besides studies, T.M.R.P.K. was good at cricket too. His brother, Indrajith Tennakoon, motivated him to play and sharpen his skills. The brothers practiced cricket in the paddy field of the village. As they both were passionate about cricket, no hurdle or situation stopped them from playing it. He was the only person who understood his younger brother’s dreams and always remained optimistic about them.

Studying at the Dharmaraja College in Kandy were T.M.R.P.K.’s first steps out of the Uhumeeya village. He knew that this was his make-or-break opportunity, and there was no chance to return. During his college years, Sujan Duminda, his good friend, supported him immensely. Just like his elder brother, his friend could also sense the spark that T.M.R.P.K. possessed. Because of his outstanding academic performance, he earned himself a scholarship at Cambridge University. Being selected in a world-renowned university was an honorable moment for him and his family. It was at this point that T.M.R.P.K. realized the true power of determination. This admission made him work even harder to do better.

In 2011, T.M.R.P.K. moved to England. He knew that this was his first international travel but would not be his last. Studying at a prestigious institution ignited a flame in him to achieve even more. In England, he revived his cricket skills too. T.M.R.P.K. played county-level cricket for Middlesex and Surrey. His talents were appreciated by many, so much so that he was often advised to take up cricket as his career, but he had other plans. T.M.R.P.K. was not only good at cricket but also was interested in bodybuilding, boxing, and modeling. As cricket demanded one to be fit, T.M.R.P.K. did not skip even a day to the gym. This kept him going, and he also tried his hand at modeling.

At Cambridge, T.M.R.P.K. studied Material Science, Fluid Dynamics, Structural Analysis, Propulsion, and Aircraft performance. He also completed his Ph.D. from there and studied Fluid Flow and Aerodynamics, A.C.C.I.S., Dynamics and Control, and Robotics. Acing these subjects helped him bag a position of an I.T. Specialist in N.A.S.A. in 2018. At this moment, T.M.R.P.K. felt that he had finally achieved his childhood dream of ‘Coming from nothing and having everything.’ The trust that Tennakoon had in himself and the determination that he had to achieve his goals finally paid off. He was immensely proud of himself and his achievements.

‘Dreams and Dedication Are A Powerful Combination’

T.M.R.P.K. Tennakoon’s dedication and hard work have proven the quote true. Today, he has reached a level nobody from his village could dream of. Not only has he made his family proud of his achievements but is also making his homeland proud, as he actively works for charities. His story is an inspiration for many who give up under the pressures of life and do not struggle to improve their situations. Remember that life does not remain the same forever. It might be difficult now, but things will change, so keep hustling!

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.