Reaching Enough - By Diya Sarah

Written By: Diya Sarah

Category: Essay

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In her essay "Reaching Enough," Diya Sarah delves into the intricate dance between ambition and identity, offering a compelling reflection on perseverance and self-discovery. Submitted as part of the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this work invites readers to contemplate the relentless pursuit of success and the inherent struggles faced along the way. Through vivid imagery and introspective narrative, Diya Sarah captures the essence of striving for more while questioning the very nature of fulfillment.

About the Work

"Reaching Enough" explores the themes of ambition and the relentless drive for recognition. Diya Sarah uses striking imagery to convey the emotional turmoil of striving against overwhelming odds. The essay's mood shifts from hopeful determination to a poignant realization of limits, capturing the raw essence of human ambition. It's a reflective piece that prompts readers to ponder the cost of their aspirations and the true meaning of success.

Reaching Enough

Original Submission by Diya Sarah

Inertia. Striving. Slipping. Erased.

Wading in the shallows is for the weak. That’s what we’ve always been told isn’t it? Throwing oneself off the highest peak into the deep end; now that is commendable.

At first, the impact and sudden chill of the water startle our senses into action. The brain comes alive, every neuron sparking and awake. Eyes wide, we peer into the murky water, entirely sure we can see clearly. We gaze at the dark, dirty watery depths and nod with purpose. Yes, this is exactly where we must be. The dark will surely turn to light soon anyway, right? Striking out

into the empty waters, we look upward and onward, optimistically pushing towards where we think the surface is, feeling electric as the current wraps around and intertwines with every straining sinew. Soon we are one with the water, hardly distinguishable; the bone-chilling fluid flows through our veins, igniting, propelling, sustaining. Onlookers marvel, unable to fathom what they witness and constantly remarking, “Oh but, how does she do it?”

Smiling, accepting the praise, letting it fuel effort, we push ever onward. Pushing harder than we probably should, striking out at more water than our fingers can handle, kicking upwards to where the surface must surely be. We can almost picture it, the surface, bursting through the sea of names and faces and deadlines. The surface, where we are no longer lost in the murky depths of effort and anonymity. The surface, where we finally become somebody, where we finally let ourselves be someone. The surface, just above our fitful striving, our numb fingers, our straining lungs. The surface must surely be there. For if it is not, then we are subject to a fate too dire to contemplate. If it is not, we have no purpose. If it is not, we strain towards an abyss, lost and directionless. If it is not, we strain towards mediocrity, to become just another forgotten soul, to be nothing more than another face in the crowd- fleeting, blurry and forgotten. Never, there can be no worse fate than that. We must strive to the surface. We must breach it at all costs. We must be remembered.

Droplet by droplet, trickling ever so steadily, the water starts to sting the eyes, numb the brain, and dull the heart. We can no longer push confidently for the surface, rather we are left clawing for it. We strike out in desperation, trying to hold on to something, anything that could propel us further, just a little beyond, for the surface must be close, must it not?

But in water, feet find no purchase and fingers no saviour. We strive in vain to reach where we think we ought, only to find that the current that once pushed us ahead, now eats us alive. The chilling fluid that once sparked through our veins, now burns us from the inside.

The lungs have had enough. The fingers tire of straining. The mind resigns and writes notes to loved ones. The heart glances about frantically for a solution, for hope, for the surface, only to find that it has no allies, that strength is long gone.

The water chokes. It forces the eyes shut. It floods the senses, urging them to eternal rest. Finally, for once, the murky water clears. A soft light dawns from somewhere above. The surface? Could it really be?

The water echoes the scoffers laugh as it carries the limp, pointlessly optimistic remains of a human, to the grave of mediocrity. The resting place of others who tried and failed to reach the surface. The dark underworld of forgotten beings.

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates diverse voices and creative expressions, providing a platform for writers around the world to showcase their talents. This competition encourages participants to explore and articulate their unique perspectives through poetry, essays, and creative writing, fostering a vibrant community of literary enthusiasts.

We extend our gratitude to Diya Sarah for her thought-provoking essay "Reaching Enough," submitted to the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her exploration of ambition and identity resonates deeply, inviting readers to reflect on their own journeys. Thank you, Diya, for sharing your insightful work with us.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.