Category: Career

Knowing yourself better

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Recently I came across a video where one IIT professor was reacting to his student’s video. In that video, the student said that he took Mechanical Engineering just because he was good in Maths and Physics, and at the same time he was also advocating why Software or any IT job might be a better option for an average student. I had a spontaneous smirk when he said that thing about Maths and Physics. This was the reason for me for taking Mechanical as well. Nowadays, whenever anyone asks me what is that one mistake that I would like to correct, I always say I would undo this one.

I used to enjoy studying a lot. Back in 10+2, solving Math problems were like a second hobby for me, after, obviously, watching football matches. But college life changed everything. A thing of pleasure started feeling like a huge burden. My college routine piled up more misery on top of that. And things at times seemed unbearable.

Except for a few topics like Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, etc. (which were ‘Math heavy’), I hardly enjoyed any subject. Then I came to know about Operations Research (OR) in my 4th year. That subject was a kind of revelation for me. Whenever I used to do Math, I would have one question in my mind: How can this be directly applied to real-life problems? OR kind of made me realize on a large scale how we can use Mathematics for that.

Looking back at my college life and those ‘sad boi’ hours, I kind of feel contented that I went through this. You know there is a pattern in sitcoms where they will introduce a side character to bring together the main couple of the show (Karen in The Office, Kelly in Superstore, etc.). My college life kinda did that for me. I realized what I should be doing. Where I am good at. I stopped pursuing MS in Mechanical Engineering and instead focused on doing something related to Math or Data. Data, numbers, stats have been something that always made sense to me. And then I decided to do my Master’s in OR. Now I use OR techniques on a daily basis to make a positive impact for my organization.

Apart from a long retrospection on a lazy Saturday afternoon, there is another reason for writing this blog post. It irks me whenever any of my juniors ask me whether he/she should switch to Data Science to start earning more. If your intention to switch is just to earn more, then best of luck! After some hardships, I understood that I would rather fail in doing something I like. And I feel, for everyone, it is important to find that ‘something’. When you are not employed or associated with any institution, it is important to introspect. The focus should be on knowing yourself better, not mindlessly running after every job opportunity that is available. Otherwise, those ‘sad boi’ hours in life will just be prolonged.

Life, the 2nd chance and Jurgen Klopp

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I am good with dates. I vividly remember it was 26th May 2018. I had my final exam of Engineering life and Liverpool were set to face Real Madrid for the UCL final. The build-up to the game wasn’t ideal for me personally. I had already received 3 rejections for my MS applications. For some reason, I built up a mental image that “Everything can’t be bad” and LFC are gonna lift the 6th. That obviously didn’t happen. After the final, a dejected Jurgen Klopp said back then: “This is not the end, only beginning”. But I kinda refused to believe it. This was a golden opportunity that LFC lost.

I remember waking up on the 27th. Never felt worse in life. Had nothing to look forward to. Engrossed in despair. On the 29th something changed. I wake up to my Twitter notifications at 5:30 AM. Liverpool FC have signed Fabinho. Out of nowhere. A type of player Klopp has never signed before. That made me thinking, I should probably change my approach too. And I started preparing for GATE. The point I wanted to reach was still the same, but the path changed a bit.

The following season (2018-19) Liverpool were on fire. But it seemed that this was going to be another “So close but yet so far” kind of season when Barcelona beat us 3-0. Klopp, however, clearly had different plans. I will never forget his press conference before the return leg of Barcelona: “If we can do it, wonderful, If not, let’s fail in the most beautiful way”. Liverpool did the unthinkable. Defeated Barca 4-0 and then went on to become the European Champions for the record 6th time. Meanwhile, I had another rejection from ISI Kolkata before joining Jadavpur University for a similar course.

Fast forward to 2021, Liverpool FC have lifted the 1st Premier League and 19th League title. Klopp has made the dreams of millions come true. I am also in a much better place than I was back in 2018 March. Over the years, days after days, when I had nothing to look forward to, I have taken my much-needed inspiration from Jurgen Klopp. I have learned so much from his general approach to life. I am now quite comfortable in accepting things that I am not good at. But the most valuable lesson I’ve learned from Mr. Klopp is this: Life really provides you the 2nd chance if you work for it (I think Klopp has said something similar too). Jurgen Klopp is the living embodiment of the ‘2nd chance’ that many doubters refuse to believe. I used to be one of them too. But he has changed me from a doubter to a believer, just like he promised. Thank you, Jurgen Klopp. You’ll never walk alone.

Opportunity

shibaprasadb1 Comment
Opportunity  is  a  window  in  life  to  make  some  positive  changes.  It  can come in different forms such as tangible and intangible. A proactive mind with desire will always introspect about life events and envisage whether there can be an opportunity for self-upliftment of any form. Just like I did here!  While  writing  about  ‘Opportunity’,  I  took  the  opportunity  to cultivate some disordered and scattered thoughts and penned them down in
an ordered and organised way.
After analysing one’s strength and weakness, one should always analyse
the available opportunities, then and then only one can better him/herself and  travel  the  perceived  road.  On  the  other  hand,  being  in  complete oblivion  about  the  available  opportunities  will  not  only  make  one incompetent but will also hinder his growth as a better individual.
In a much broader sense, life itself is an opportunity. An opportunity to leave a mark in the space-time continuum. An opportunity to do something which will echo in eternity. Every step we take, every moment we live can
be  an  opportunity  if  we  want.  An  opportunity  to  be  a  better  scholar,  a better professional, a better athlete and last but not the least a better human being.  So  let’s  seize  the  moment  and  be  a  better  version  of  ourselves.
Carpe Diem!
Note: I didn’t have any intentions of putting it up in my blog. It was supposed be an assignment given by Prof. Bijan Sarkar. But Prof. Sarkar was overwhelmed by the writing and he even took a copy of it and made me put a date. So I thought maybe it was good and I can even publish it here! Feedback is, as it always has been, appreciated!