By: Suditi Jindal
I woke up to very pleasant news yesterday. A student who has been training with me and being mentored by me, for more than five years now, informed me that he has secured a job in the US in a profile that he has been preparing for, all his life.
The words or ideas that we should focus upon in the above message are, ‘preparing for all his life’. It is possible for us to achieve our dreams, especially if the dreams are of a better future or the life that we want. It is but, a matter of time, to live the reality that was once only a plan.
A plan is a must to accomplish goals, as coincidences rarely land us where we intend to be. We did the same thing with my student. After his class twelfth examinations, we drew up a road-map for his future life. Although we had been interacting long before this, yet it never crossed our minds or my mind. The unfolding of an unexpected happening prompted me to mentor him in an altogether different manner.
A good fulfilling life not only comprises profession but also personal aspirations, social goals, physical targets, personal ambitions, and spiritual accomplishments. A SWOT analysis coupled with a test of interest and inclination informed us of the resources and gaps present in my student’s profile. We then set a course on a patient journey of employing those resources and filling those gaps in order to build a strong profile/ personality for him.
The process is a slow one but it leads to stable results. My student who was an introvert was coached and motivated to become an active member of a public-speaking society in his college. Having lived in a protected environment of parents’ love and attention, he was pushed to challenge his limits and acquire leadership roles in large-scale activities outside his comfort-zone, primarily those involving the performing arts or creative excursions.
The semester-breaks were not the time to languish away on the bed in front of the television at home, but to pick up good internship opportunities. Through the sheer dint of his academic performance supported by the growing skill-set, he was able to secure helpful and well-paid internships. The first one was for two months at IIT, Delhi. The high-point in our journey was when he secured a fully-paid internship at McMaster University, Ontario Canada. Through sound financial planning and management, my student was able to not only provide for himself when in Canada for an internship of three months, but also take out self-financed trips to Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Ottawa. The learning from this experience was immense for him. He returned a much more confident and focused person.
Having tested unknown waters and having navigated them dexterously, the young student then wanted to pursue his further education outside India, this meant post-graduation in any of his engineering subjects. Hailing from a humble background, this seemed an impossible dream, but we were not the ones to give up.
We prepared his portfolio with impeccable personal statements, letters of recommendation, certificates of internships, extra and co-curricular participation, awards, and achievements. He secured admission into Masters of Science in Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials, at the University of California, Berkeley, California, one of his dream courses that too with scholarship. Yet again we were faced with a road-block, the funds were not sufficient for him to pay for his studies and stay in the US. He applied for a deferred admission with a scholarship and was granted the same. The passion and sincerity that my student was able to convey in all his communications, whether oral or written, stood him in good stead and the hindrance was reduced to a mere speed-breaker on his way to success.
My student began a job in India which came with a fat pay-cheque and a strenuous schedule. It was a difficult period but our talks and discussions kept him motivated. He joined UC, Berkeley after a year, with more funds at his disposal secured through a job and a loan.
The student felt that he was eligible for a full scholarship once he reached his classroom. We applied for it promptly, and our request was granted. Never for once, in this long journey, did we give up on efforts or take a rest. We persisted like a slow smoldering fire. It was now time to apply for jobs to be taken up after post-graduation.
We worked on his résumé keeping in mind the prevailing conventions in the US. We drafted a compelling cover letter and applied. It seemed a losing battle when nothing seemed to happen for more than six months. However, soon after his graduation, he secured a job of his choice with a company of his selection, in the US.
All this has been achieved by a young lad who had no exposure to the outside world, who even gave up admission in a prestigious university in a course of his choice, just because he was homesick.
Success is just a plan away, make the road-map to your happy life and fulfill it one step at a time.