I have been maintaining a countdown to graduation on a white board in my room. I started 616 days ago. This board has witnessed my journey more closely than anyone or anything else. It has seen the hundreds of activities I planned. It knows the ones that I checked off with a sense of pride and accomplishment. It has also seen the ones I erased after getting disheartened by unsuccessful attempts. It has observed the extent of my dreams and laughed at the ridiculousness of some of them. Sometimes, it has even served as a canvas for the artistic endeavors of my creative friends. But more than anything, it has been my companion that has kept me grounded and aligned. In many ways, this board is the Wilson to my Chuck Noland. This is what the board reads today.
What an incredible two years, these have been! There is no way I can find the words to describe exactly how I feel. So many new experiences, so many new friends, so many memories worth cherishing! I have tried to blog about it in bits and pieces but there’s so much more to these two years than what I have penned down. I desperately wanted to become a student again after almost 10 years in the work force. And my life at UTD turned out to be everything I had expected and more! It’s going to be difficult to say goodbye.
I completed my engineering in 2008. The world got hit by a recession. I am completing my Master’s degree in 2020. We are in the midst of a pandemic. Looks like I pick the worst years to graduate. My flatmate jokes that next time I plan to study again, I should inform him in advance so that he can be prepared! But may be there is a lesson here. Everything that happened since 2008 got me where I am today. And you know what? I did alright. I am still here – studying, working, enjoying myself, making new friends, looking forward to the next chapter. This tells me that despite everything that’s been happening, I will be okay. And so will each one of you!
That brings me to the man who reinstated my faith in myself and the process. Dr. Ganesh Janakiraman is a man of few words. It’s a shame that I met him so late in my Master’s journey. His Operations Management class is one of the most engaging, exciting, and productive classes I have taken not just at UTD, but in my life. But that’s not the only reason I am grateful to this brilliant professor. It’s because of his kindness as a human being. I met him outside of class for the first time in his office to discuss the results of a test. Ever since the day we had that chat, Dr. Janakiraman has been an encouraging voice and a driving force. In the past few months, when times have become tough and it’s so easy for me to doubt myself and get boggled by the uncertainty of what the future holds, his words have inspired me to stay strong. Every time I have a conversation (mostly email) with Dr. Janakiraman, there’s this voice inside me that goes – YOU GOT THIS. Like he says – “The process might be slow but that only means we go ahead with more energy.”
Dear Dr. Janakiraman, if you’re reading this – Your kind and genuine efforts to help me out during this phase have moved me. All your teachings and advice will stay with me forever, and play a big role in whatever becomes of me.
And on that note, it’s time to bring this 10-article series to a close with a quote by another profound man. The great Indian actor Irrfan Khan left us a few days ago. Before he did, he left this pearl of wisdom for his son and I think it applies to each one of us, especially now more than ever –
“Learn to surrender to the dance of uncertainty and trust your faith in the universe.”
This is the tenth and final article of my #10DaysToGraduate series where I share 10 key lessons from my Master’s degree in the form of a countdown to May 8 (today), my graduation date. Time to start over.