As the Curtain Falls…

A rather eventful end to 2007. Very unlike previous years. So, what makes this year special? Or is it really that special? Well, on a personal level, it surely has been VVS (very very special) for a whole lot of reasons.

The year started off on an anxious note. It was the biggest year of uncertainty. Everything seemed so near, yet so far. As the months rolled by, good things started unfolding themselves. So far, everything has gone well and I’m happy.

So, like I said in the previous post, it was exams time. The dark cloud and the storm has passed since, leaving only traces of destruction and bruises. That’s because, now I am immune.

The end of an era (my bachelor’s degree) could not be more eventful. Today, I can say I have lived each and every day of the past four years to the fullest. It might not sound like a big deal, but not everyone gets to feel this way. Believe me.

The transition: The Switching.

Now that we’re done with regular studies (where you sit in a space enclosed within four walls and stare into space), its time to get serious and start applying whatever knowledge we had gained into doing something productive. The project work. All the fun during the course apart, it is quite important that this is taken seriously.

So, my friend and I started looking for places where we could work for the next four months. Luckily, we found one. It’s a great feeling working for (I prefer ‘with’, it makes me feel I am a part of the company) an MNC. After having spent so many years as a student, the transition wasn’t as difficult as I presumed it would be.

There are some funny things I’d like to mention though. When in college, we tend to talk loudly and laugh our heads off even at silly jokes. This can be an issue when you’re at a workplace. Your voice goes up by about 0.5 decibels and heads pop up from cubicles all over the place! And they’re not happy faces, mind you. A reproachful look greets you. Another funny thing is why would anyone want to wear clothes that are supremely uncomfortable! (no offense to anyone, these are just my views)

The concept of TGIF (Thank God Its Friday!) is very popular there. I dunno about ‘there’ but I like it. For three reasons.

1. The week is finally over and I don’t have to travel that far.

2. I get to go to college and meet my friends! (after a week!)

3. I can wear whatever I want.

So, all I can say is 'right now, life's good!' .

The dawn of the Faceless Fear !

Its that part of the semester when sleep is evasive. Tension is pervasive. The feeling is not very unfamiliar though. Having sailed through the sea (ocean, perhaps) of 'engineering' for almost 3 and a 1/2 years now, we've got used to it. So, the saga of misery continues. Heck ! but not for long.

Its hard to believe that in about 6 months from now I'll have to leave the place that is extremely close to my heart. My Alma Mater. My college. The four years spent here have been a complete entertainment package and knowledge (and wisdom) imparting too. In the recently released movie "Happy Days" a senior tells a junior not to worry and he says "college anni nerputundi ra" (the college teaches you everything man). Now, as I stand at the threshold of exit, I comprehend its only too true.

Here are some of the mantras I learned during the course of my voyage:

1. The college curriculum provides you with excellent opportunities to flex your intellectual muscles, as long as its within limits of course. "Do what you're asked to do. Don't think extra." Talk about people not being creative !! Get ready for an overhaul of your priorities coz you're in for a treat ! The headers and footers in a page are more important than the content of the page. Hmmph !

2. And yes. Before I forget to mention. People with some basic acting skills can really flourish in the internal academics. Just stare at the lecturer, while nodding your head, whereas you're all ears to your neighbor's version of the latest 'dare' of a student from the next class. It makes sitting in the class throughout the day bearable and also, earns you some cool brownie points from the lecturer for being so attentive. To a certain extent. Believe me. You have to come up with such innovative ideas to survive the monotonous drone for the greater part of the day.

3. Apart from that, being in the company of people from diverse backgrounds is exciting. One can learn enough from them to last oneself a lifetime. For example, making it through a lab examination trains you well enough to lead a comfortable life for about 2 months in the Antarctica. :P Who the hell says the seniors rag the juniors !! As you pass out of the college you are well equipped to handle almost any kind of situation. I hope you're getting the drift of what I'm trying to say. :)

4. And last, but certainly not the least, friends. They make your life beautiful. A good, understanding and caring friend is enough to make your life complete at college. The time that we spend with our friends is priceless. I just can't have enough of them ! Aaah. Its not gonna be easy. Leaving them all.

Along with this pain, comes the tension of exams. One of the 'fear's I was talking about. The other one is of course, going out there and being by yourself. Not many would want it to happen if they could help it. But, like they say, time is all powerful. No one can stop it. We just have to roll along. We've got to move on.

Photography and Fun...

Hey everybody ! Been sometime since we met over here, isn't it? So, what exactly have I been doing since the last post (which someone honestly mentioned that I bragged too much about myself in) ? Well, nothing inspiring really. Actually nothing ! Ever had this feeling that finally you've settled on something or had a definite plan in hand?



Well, I had such an experience early this semester. Everything seemed set at the outset. Wasn't jobless anymore so I was free to pursue anything that interested me. I always loved photography. Only, never got my hands on a camera before (a good one). Very recently, I had the opportunity. The result? It's right up there.. The dead tree which I call "the tree that was" is from our college campus. It was always right there. Never thought how it would look in a picture.

So , what's the fuss about photography? Isn't the real thing in front of our eyes better than shoot a picture and then look at the virtual image of that thing? Well, only if you do not have "an eye for photography" .

What the hell does that mean? Simple. Some things look far more beautiful and captivating on film than in the real form. The picture below is from the garden at my place. During night. Normally, you wouldn't even notice the tree in general and the flowers in particular. But on film........ now you see what I mean? Good. Anyway, thats an amateur photographer's talk. Nevertheless, one has to learn. and thats exactly what I'm doing. :)
More pictures. Coming up !

Life is calling...

My life has been quite a roller coaster ride so far. But now that its all set I could write this in a more positive way. I've had my share of difficult times in the past. Everyone goes through this once or perhaps more than once in their life. Trust me, its not easy, going through these phases.
Never mind all that.. I'm through the tough times.. or at least it seems like that now.. :) A huge setback in intermediate brought my confidence levels to zero. I still remember the night very vividly. It was after the second year and i was anxiously waiting for the results. and then BAM ! Thats the sound of my luck crashing at the gates of the college i wanted to join since my schooling days.. :(

Since then, until last month, nothing good seemed to be happening. Absolutely nothing. Throughout the first three years of engg. i kept thinking like a frog in a well. Never bothered to know whats going on in the world.. it was like going to school.. except there was no interval :D
And then towards the end of the third year things started shaping up. Was part of the organizing committee of QuBit '07 (our dept.'s tech fest) .. got some nice recognition and accolades from different quarters.. Haven't had great grads during the degree till today.... always a bit above average..thats all.. that never actually bothered me. Always thought acads are not everything.. they don't pull you through each and every situation.. Looks like i was right..to a large extent. :) Here I am ! With my neck just above the danger level and two jobs in hand !! Now i have a choice .. ha ha..

June 4 was a big day. It was my first interview ever.. It was Cognizant ! quite a reputed company.. i had to get in ! I wouldn't call the interview great or even ok.. I was pretty sure he'd screw me.. but you know.. we are all humans.. hope keeps us alive.. we keep hoping for good things to happen even during the darkest of times...... Waited late into the night for the results to be announced.. Heart says "You're in !" .. Brain "Better luck next time" ... it was THE most tiring day ever in my life.. well.. mentally.. And Lo ! I AM in ! Oh God ! That was such a relief.. couldn't actually control my happiness.. ran berserk and bumped into people, jumped like mad until people started staring at me.. :D The best part was that even my best bud Karthik got in.. you can see him in the pic above, to my right. we call him Bruce. Now i have a thread in hand and I'm safe. PHEW !

June 15. HSBC came in to recruit people. I couldn't make it. I dunno why. I find no reason. anyways this post is about happy memories :D

June 18. It was Infosys. I wasn't very keen on getting into it. but every time i think about 15th, it aches my heart. So I decide to attend it and be serious about it. Started out at 6 in the morning from home with Bruce and my close friend Juli(Arun). It was a beautiful drive to the VNR college campus. The campus was very good too. And there were peacocks near the campus.. in the pic above just behind the wall there were peacocks.. wow ! The next thing i notice in the college was the crowd. Man ! there was a huge gathering there. Doubts started creeping into my mind whether i'll be able to get through or not..
but I cleared the first round with some pretty stunning figures. :) Next was the interview.. It was a breeze to say the least. I just talked naturally (solved the puzzle the interviewer gave me in 4 seconds) and stayed calm... then some waiting.......... My name comes in the final list !!!! My second job !! the excitement wasn't exactly like the first time but still... two jobs in hand is cool.. feels good to have a choice. The almost 30Km. drive back home didn't feel like a furlong :D

So thats pretty much what has happened this month so far.. Looking forward to good times ahead. Looks like the fourth year's gonna be fun.. hee hee.

the conundrum of making a choice.....

You know.. most of the time we hang around doing nothing(most of us). I wouldn't accept it of course if you said that to me ! There is stuff to do.. but i wont do. Never cared to find out what holds me back......
Then suddenly one day I see this real close friend(or 'enemy'?) of mine doing something big and cool and being appreciated by the 'society'.
Thats when it strikes me ! Thats when I start thinking about my strengths, my weaknesses, why I haven't been doing anything all these years.... the whole life of mine starts flashing by.. some thoughts most memorable, some, quite forgettable. I am confused now. But I know what to do.. dunno where to start from.

Somehow I struggle and start. Now I have a choice. It's not an easy one mind you ! All the options are equally appealing in their own way. Never had I met with such a thing as this choice ! What to do. I ask people. They tell. Only because they have to. Why would anyone care what I must do. I for one wouldn't if you asked me. But they do tell me the choice I'm about to make could change my life.. Change my life? One little choice? Who are they kidding?!
But hey ! perhaps they are right... never block ideas or thoughts is what I keep telling myself. So I think about them.. One thing is for sure. I wanna do great things. great things in less time. Dedication towards the work goes without saying. Now i search for the one choice which would lead me to the goal i desire to reach. There ! A choice again ! Will I ever be able to make one..... I don't know.......