MA Madness

I was feeling really weird and eerie on the last day of my final MA exam. We all were giving our 5th and final paper: Modern Classics in translation. Anyway, coming to the weird part of it, instead of being happy - is definitely because I knew our stint with 2 years of MA is over.

So what? This is always what we wanted! All throughout the course of 4 semesters, I hankered for MA to finish. Each day, I remember, for the sake of not missing the enriching lectures, I did attend classes whenever I could. It was not only difficult but sometimes pathetic for me to attend , toting the 3 kg Laptop (includes the cable also and a novel) hanging on my right side and my big handbag hanging on my left side that contained a Tiffin, a book, a pen, my wallet some essentials needed to freshen up once I reached office, post college. It was hell doing it everyday and for 5 days consecutively. Though we had holiday on a second Saturday, I would still bunk college on every Saturday. A self-declared holiday influenced very much by my corporate lifestyle: working only 5 days a week.

Our Rendezvous with MA and our professors was certainly an uplifting, rewarding and enriching experience- something that we will cherish all our lives. MA gave me so much! How much? It made us better persons, honed our life skills, I must say, opened the window to the world and how it works, a doorway to knowledge, empowerment of sorts, It certainly added to my courage and audacity, it moulded our perspectives, views, opinions; to question and react to things, doing what you want to do rather than being compelled by people and circumstances and the list will go on and on…

We always feel happy when we are on the precipice of accomplishing various phases of our academic life: schooling, intermediate, graduation and PG. I have felt happy at the end of every phase, but this one! The reason is that at the end of every phase I knew what I will take up next. It was very much decided. Now, I was apprehensive as to what next? Where will I be heading? and yes, this insecurity, though I’m working and positioned well, in the field of my choice. Marriage is definitely not on the cards anywhere in the near future. Not at least when I’m so young. I need options man. Got to make something of my life! I do have some plans though of either pursuing higher studies or switch from corporate life to some other field. I will let you folks know when the time is opportune!

As of now, I’m sure all my classmates and friends are going through the MA hangover. I’m doing both: the hangover and work (it’s been a week since I joined). We wake up and realize that, things that have been so much a part of our life, are not now anymore. I’m talking about things intrinsic to MA: the rushed affairs in the mornings to make it to college by 10 am , but ending up there by 10 30 or eleven am; the internal 10 marks assessments, the semester exams, mind boggling lectures, the fun and much more!

PS: The photograph in this post is one taken during one of the photo sessions, during out last days of MA. One can see my classmates standing with our professors. I couldn’t make it coz of office :-(

Evolution, Education and Empowerment- Part One

The above three E’s are an integral part of a student and a working professional’s life, like me for instance. One can evolve and advance in one’s career and life, if we are equipped with education and empowerment to pursue what we want. Tomorrow, Sept 08, 08 as we celebrate World Literacy Day, I want to ponder and introspect as to how much I have made out of the education I received so far.

CIA Worldfact book estimated in 2007 that overall World literacy rate stands at 82%, while India touches 61.0%. Mighty relieved that India’s score is at least average; it could have increased by a minimum 5 to 7%, by now. It is not uncommon to mistake literacy from education. How is literacy different from education? What makes us literate? What makes us educated? Literacy is the ability of an individual to read and write; it empowers an individual with knowledge and thereby makes one competent. Education empowers us to develop mental, aesthetic and moral faculties. However this can be possible only if education makes us think, question, aware, conscious and sensitize us.

How often have we developed cold feet about studying, when in School? L.K.G, U.K.G plus another 10 years looked like an eternity and would shudder at the prospect of another 7 years of education. Since we get things on a platter, we barely value education. There was an Abraham Lincoln, who was not lucky as most of us are and studied under street lights; A Brooker.T.Washington (coal miner) who literally gave his sweat and blood for education. In the course of this road that we traverse for 15 to 17 years of our life, I realized the value of education when I stepped into my XI class at St Francis. This is a turning point in everyone’s life when one is at the crossroads of umpteen options thrown at us: Maths, Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Economic, History, Literature, Commerce etc. Things are put into perspective when you take your pick; if you savour and devour your subjects nothing like it and if that empowers and equips you to excel in your career, what better can you ask for? I know the value of education and learning. Hence I had been persistent and adamant to pursue PG.

While studying in Rosary Covent High School, I had an intense ambition to become an IAS Officer, as a tiny tot, adolescent and teenager. Man proposes and God disposes! What I thought? And what I eventually became today? What started as working on a lark, as a part-timer actually became a grave career option. I became more inclined towards writing and honed my skills at various workshops I attended at College. Scales have been in my favour and 50% of my work that I do now is writing, writing and writing. I’m happy and content to have arrived where I always wanted to be.