A Full Circle

At this time last year, I was waiting eagerly for what I was sure would be the best experience of my life. Surprisingly, I never stopped to think about what would come after it was over.
I was riding a wave of optimism and naiveté. The ugliness I had seen did nothing to reduce my enthusiasm. I started applying for jobs; sure I would get picked up soon.

The following months were the most difficult of my life, so far.
The thing about a job is, when you don’t have it, it defines you. You are- in a word- unemployed. It’s like your CV is your price tag, and you are sitting on a supermarket shelf, while everyone just keeps passing you by. Most of us can’t enjoy the break at all. We fret and worry and obsess, and fall into a pit of self-doubt. I know I did. We have all the time to do the things we love, but they don’t seem so enticing anymore.

I was very lucky though. My mom forced me to enrol in a Master’s course, and insisted I follow it through. Even when I had 2 dream job offers in the UK, she told me to continue my exam preparations until every last detail was worked out. I think moms have a premonition about their children. In a matter of weeks, the job offers fell through, because the UK Govt has stopped issuing work permits. The only thing I had to show for the last 6 months- were my half hearted pursuit of my Master’s degree.
I coped with the shock by completely giving up on my dream of a career in sports, and taking up an internship in finance. I ran off to Delhi. In my mind, staying in Pune was a daily reminder that I had failed. That I was in the same city and college I had been in for the past 6 years. It meant I had gotten nowhere.

The internship bored me to death. I was so thoroughly disinterested in finance that I started spending my time reading Russian Vampire novels in office. When I ran out of those I started looking up sports sector jobs online again. I came back to an empty house and ate leftovers by myself in front of the Idiot Box. I knew this wasn’t the life I wanted. Those 3 weeks I spent running, lead me to a slow epiphany.

I don’t know if we truly are ever ready to leave home. I guess it depends on whats waiting at the other end of the road.

So when I got a job in Pune, I didn’t think twice. The pay wasn’t what I was expecting, the profile wasn’t what I thought I wanted but I took it anyway. I felt I had no choice.
The first day of work, I suffered from a culture shock! People came to work in sweatshirts, sat together on the floor for lunch, and spoke to each other in Marathi.

It’s been a month now, and I couldn’t be happier I took the plunge. The atmosphere is friendly and encouraging. So different from my previous experience. My boss actually is great, and that’s so rare I’m still not over the shock. My colleagues are fun, and sometimes I stay back at work to chat! It’s crazy! I’m still getting used to some things like the music they play in office, but that’s a minor drawback.

I get to spend time with my friends and family. Mom and dad pack my lunch for me, and I don’t have to spend my evenings alone at home. The littlest things make the difference. My geyser is on when I get home from the gym.

I’ve realised that growth isn’t about how much you earn or how big your company is. It’s about how you deal with what you’ve lost and value what you have.