Thanks for
talking to me,
making me laugh,
understanding, listening,
helping me
see things in a
different light
and mostly just
being there for me.

you're a great friend!!

(Not one but all of you)

Don't stand beside my grave and weep,
For I'm not there, I do not sleep,
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond's glint on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn's rain.

When you awaken in morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush,
of quiet birds in circle flight,
I am soft stars that shine at night,
Don't stand beside my grave and cry,
I am not there. I did not die.

                                                                    -by Melinda Sue Pacho

Yesterday, I went to the institute. Why? that even I don’t know. It was just that I was thinking about the past year I spent there, studying, playing, wandering, chatting with friends…. and my feet automatically marched towards the cab going there. Even it is only 2 months when we last met, but still it was quite a blissful experience to meet friends in the hostel. The first person I met was the friend from Indonesia. I greeted her but to my surprise she didn’t reacted. Later I realized she is the twin sister of her who is also joining IMI as our junior. It was quite embarrassing, but a funny instance as I was trying to get her memory back and explaining her who I am thinking her as my batch mate J. Next I surprised my friends in their rooms by my sudden presence.  We discussed a lot of things, our projects, electives, and of course girls at our respective places. We enjoyed watching some clips of Hum-Tum on the laptop of one of the buddies. He also showed me their clips from their recent visit to Mussorie & Corbett park. After that I went to the Amphi. Sitting there I realized how much I missed this precious moment. I also met with an IIM A guy residing there for his summers. While on my way home I started thinking the value of friends in one’s life. Overwhelmed with the feeling I came across the following short verse while surfing the net and thought to share it with you all. So here it goes, 

"Just as a wave is lifted by the shore,
Then breaks across the slowly rising sand,
So as I watch you weep my feelings pour
Across the wash of what I understand.
I wish I could just take you in my arms
And all your pain could melt into my chest,
And all the violence of passing storms
Could pass through me and finally come to rest.
No words can set things right or presence lend
A miracle to light your darkened way,
But there is solace in a loving friend
And comfort in what I don't have to say.
Whatever circumstance you cannot bear,
Just turn to me, and you will find me there"

(Warning: This one is Serious J). According to the web definition of Internship, “It is a part-time job during the academic year or the summer months in which you receive supervised practical training in your field. Internships are often very closely related to your academic and career goals, and may help make it easier to gain professional employment.” According to me it is not only closely related to one’s goals but also some times facilitate in finding what one’s goals are? Taking our example, we before going to our respective summer projects were unconvinced about our prospective specialization. But now I realized that we are much clearer, which way we want our life to shape out. Also it is the first corporate exposure for us and all are enjoying it to the fullest. Everybody trying for a PPO!! (Height of Optimism).  Still it is not impossible. Many of the seniors have realized their dreams of getting the PPO. Even if one does not get a PPO, still he/she can get the experience of a lifetime. As regards to me I’m getting the experience not only in the work I do but also understanding the work culture and knowing the people here (Above all, getting the moolah too!!)

However looking at the other side of the coin, I have realized that most of the organization takes the interns just for the sake of taking them (rather satisfying the wants of public relations). Most of these organizations neither have a need for a trainee nor do they have a suitable project. This robs the respective trainee from the golden experience that he could have gained working for a project that actually helps the organization in achieving its goals. One can do little about it and thus he/ she can spend his/her time trying to learn the organization culture and the work that goes around them.

I think unlike me I have got much serious, so not boring you any more I am ending this post with some quotes I found interesting:

§         There is nothing training cannot do. Nothing is above its reach. It can turn bad morals to good; it can destroy bad principles and recreate good ones; it can lift men to angelship. - Mark Twain

§         Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results. - John Dewey

§         The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn - Alvin Toffler

§         Don't just learn the tricks of the trade. Learn the trade. - James Benni

§         The only kind of learning which significantly influences behavior is self-discovered or self-appropriated learning - truth that has been assimilated in experience. - Carl Rogers

§         What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand. – Confucius

§         The master shook his head. "I could answer your questions but I won't try because you wouldn't understand the answer. Now listen. Imagine that I am holding a pot of tea, and you are thirsty. You want me to give you tea. I can pour tea but you'll have to produce a cup. I can't pour the tea on your hands or you'll get burnt. If I pour it on the floor I shall spoil the floor mats. You have to have a cup. That cup you will form in yourself by the training you will receive here." - Janwillem Van de Wetering, The Empty Mirror