Reflections

2007 passed by faster than any other year in living memory, which is to say, pretty much the fastest in my existence. The latter half was especially accelerated, though in all due fairness, I often have to actually think what all did I do in the first half of the year that that went by so fast. By my standards, and I daresay by any standards, this was a stellar year, one where pretty much everything I wished for, and even those that I didn’t, fell in my kitty. Barring the one blip of a disastrous first term at IIMB, this was a perfect year of achievements. Not to say that the blip is insignificant, but in face of what all I managed in this term, it indeed isn’t much of a dampener. On an academic as well as on a personal front, this is not a year I am going to forget and run past in a hurry.

Every year end presents crossroads and forces thoughts of quo vadis, although this year it seems more assured. At least, there is a fair chance that I might just determine my future career over a period of few weeks in summer. I also might not, but at least I won’t complain later that I never got the chance.

The year ending also coincided with the ending of term II, which went by much faster than its predecessor. I guess with an increasing involvement in non-academic activities, it is only to be expected. This term wasn’t much by way of learning, as most of the subjects were dull and uninspiring, but other activities that went on were sufficiently engaging to make sure that the end terms were around even before you realized. I found a bit of my groove though, and the initial discomfort, which hung around for much longer than I would have preferred, seems to be thankfully waning away. Of course, in hindsight, the first half of the term, belonging to the pre-summer placement era now seems like a different era altogether.

Learnings this year and personal growth? Now that it is difficult to point out. Unlike last year, this year didn’t have me asking a lot of questions of myself and seeking answers, thereby discovering more of me. Once you are strapped on the roller coaster that is IIMB, it is difficult to stop by for a moment and let life pass by as you ponder over its idiosyncrasies and of your own.

I was at my grandparents’ place after a long hiatus of 5 years, and spent the first new years’ home in this century. On both occasions I was reminded of a time when growing up wasn’t such a big deal, and that few things and people are frozen in time so bad, they seem to be forever etched that way. When playing late until forced home, when the proof of knowledge was found in hard prints and not in few clicks, and when life was so simple there was no way you could have made it complicated – all those times that I have left behind as I relentless march along pursuing God knows what.

I might even have found something special this year, though I can hardly be sure at the moment. But I guess I can wait. As they say, patience may be bitter, but it bears sweet fruits.

Some of the dates this year will stay with me for long – they are just special in their own ways. Starting from 3^rd January, 17^th March, 27^th April, 7^th June, 22^nd September, 11^th November …. The happiness felt after a long long time the day IIM admission results were declared, the unforgettable Ind-Aus encounter on an unforgettable weekend evening in Mumbai, the relief, albeit with a pang on November 11 ….. As I said, I am not exactly forgetting this year in a hurry.