I had just finished my SSC board exams and had my fill of movies that I had missed while I was preparing for my boards. We were going to shift out of the place I lived since I was born. Mixed emotions, career planning, scouting for commerce coaching classes dominated the April of 2000. In the last 16 years of my life, I had not had so much as a glimpse of the world outside Karnatak society; there was no need to. We were about a couple of dozen children, almost of same age. We had this huge gang that used to play, fight, dance, act, eat and sometimes sleep together. Sleepovers on Kanara Terrace or one of our friends' places were very common. I remember going for a sleepover party at a friend's place who used to live one flat away from mine. Still, that was quite adventurous for us. And of course, the nights used to be more of singing, antakshari, portion completion updates, what-you-want-to-do-after-tenth discussion and so on. They were WOW!
Coming back to April of 2000, it saw some major changes happening. Life twisting change (yes, it twisted my life, excruciatingly) was the decision to opt for Commerce than Science. My heart broke into a million pieces, some not to be found for a long time. I was to nurse my broken heart through the first year of my college. Nevertheless, the decision was made, much to my chagrin. I accepted. After weeks of protest, I accepted. But I was to never accept it totally. I remember going to my friend and telling her, 'Imagine, I am going to give up science! Aru, how will I live without it'. Aru said, commerce is good too, see, I am also doing it. I said, yes, but not good enough. I knew the discussion was in vain. What worth was its yield?
I applied to the best commerce colleges of those times and got through all. I chose Sydenham. Sydenham was a radical change for me. And I was allergic to change during those times. God knows how I had digested the change from Science to Commerce; add to it, this change. Luckily, I had a very close knit group of friends at college. So by the end of second month, I was beginning to be comfortable. Fared well in my mid terms, and well in my finals too. But as luck would have had it, the year 2001 brought one more life twisting change. I took up working full time, attended college only to appear for examinations and unsuccessful tried juggling both -studies and work. For the first time ever, I scored the lowest grades in my HSC. It tore me, I stared at the mark sheet for a minute, glanced at my watch - it was time for me to leave for work, and left for work. First Year Degree was ok. Kept terms for two subjects, which tore me again. It was in First Year Degree that I got my first BPO job at Infowavz. A change again. Work timings were graveyard shifts - 8.30 pm to 6 am. I used to leave home around 6.45 in the evening and return at 7.30 next morning. It was also during this time that I had my first brush with social gossip - oh, yamini? (sarcastically) she works at a call center, I wonder which decent girl will take up a job like that. But I couldn't care less. That job was paying me ten thousand rupees per month, a sum that no company would offer at that point in time.
Nonetheless, as I said, I kept terms for two subjects in First Year Degree and in the Second year, I kept terms for five subjects. My company couldn't grant me enough leaves for studies and examination. By now, I was used to the roller coaster ride in the academic arena, but when I had to keep terms for 5 subjects in Second Year Degree, I thought that was it. No studying further till I sort things and till I clear all the subjects I had kept terms for.
From 2004 to 2008, I cleared all the 7 subjects I had kept terms for, and appeared for my Final Year degree Bachelors of Commerce in the year 2009.
My academic credentials have suffered, but it has made me most adaptive to change. I won't deny that sometimes it does pinch me to have suffered in academic terms, but then when I look at the achievements against that, I think it is just a price I have paid. I choice I made. Not that it was in vain, it did yield something.
April of 2010
I am doing well professionally. My peers are at least 5 years elder to me. I have exposure to most management tools and methodologies. A Black Belt Certified Professional and an aspiring PMP candidate, I am preparing for my GMAT this year - after an attempt at being an entrepreneur. My mind has started planning measures to be taken to come at par with my peers in terms of academic standing. And so has a resolve evolved - no change is to change this.
