Mushrooming Thoughts

Meahul was quite excited after reading the Letter of Joining from Google. The first thing that he did is took his phone and typed a message to one of his teachers who had taught him English Communication. It said, “I fulfilled my promise. The dream that you made me see with my open eyes, has come true and I am hired by Google – My dream company. Thanks for the dream. ”

The teacher read the message. In the span of four years, she had taught many students. She could hardly recall the face of her dear student who had sent the text. Still, she replied – “Though I made you see the dream but it was solely your efforts and endurance that made you fulfill your dream. If you don’t mind do send me your picture.”

Within few seconds, there was a message with an image. On seeing the picture Teacher could not resist and passed a beautiful smile.

Mushrooming thoughts took her back to 2011. It was the month of July. On dry humid evening at Delhi she received a call from Mr. Amit. He wanted to check her availability for a week. There was a requirement of a Soft Skills trainer at University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES). She instantly agreed because she had heard a lot about the beauty of Dehradun but had never been to this place before.

It was Monday. She reached to the campus and the view was awesome. The valley covered by clouds. Pleasant air filled the environment with positive energy. Things looked so clean and serene. Mesmerized at the view, she prepared for her first session. She was supposed to take Personality Enhance Program for the B .Tech students of Computer Science Students.

With great amount of excitement, she stepped into Block – I Room – 1004. There were 45 students, all well dressed and seemed serious towards their career. In the midst of this huge lot, there was a single student who was not in the college uniform. She asked the reason for improper uniform the student counter questioned the trainer – By being in his formals will it be a detriment for him?

The trainer smiled and said nothing. She sensed the negative approach that the student had. Rather correcting the student instantly she said, “I want to thank you. As such students’ in the class looks alike and I in my formals appear to be an alien. But that feeling of mine is wiped off because I do have a Co-trainer who can assist me.”

As a trainer, let me not talk much about the sessions taken at UPES. What is pivotal here is the attitude of Meahul which marked and had left deep impression on my memory. 

(Let me pen down the emotions and feelings of the trainer in first person form)

Meahul after completing his higher secondary education tried his best to clear his IIT entrance test. Unfortunately he could not score better marks hence had to land up at UPES. He was demotivated and was depressed. He sat on the last desk. He hardly interacted with any student on the first day of PEP. Even when he had to involve and participate into any team activity, he did as I insisted him to participate. Though he did not do things whole-heartedly still, his ideas were liked by the team members. Straightaway he gained attention of his team members also his comments or feedback shared on other participating team was positive one which was commendable.

The full day session winded up with a Karaoke. I identified that my class comprised of creative, smart and talented young budding engineers. Meahul who was in my mind was among good singers.

At 6.00 pm, while I was enjoying my pleasant evening in the core of beautiful valleys, I noticed Meahul sitting silently on a bench. His ears plugged with ear phones. Without disturbing him, I surpassed him. But I heard him calling my name with greetings. I turned back and asked him if I could sit for a while with him.

After exchanging certain pleasantries I inquired as such what holds him back from interacting with his classmates. He took a while to open up. But he did. He could not stop tears from falling off his eyes. He voice choked and said that how he failed to fulfill the dream of his parents. His father was an IITian and was working with Infosys. He wanted his son to walk onto his footsteps and to secure a better career.

In fact the story that I heard was not a new one. Generally parents try to dream and fulfill it by enforcing the same on their kith and kin. I knew now that Meahul is living life but without any dreams. The dreams are the ones of his parents. I said, “Well Meahul, if you believe me I assessed you during today’s PEP session and trust me I found a very talented and creative person hidden in you. What you need to do is you need to set your own pathway. It is you who should see for a dream and then work hard persistently to fulfill your dream.”

The moment I stopped, He said that from his childhood days, he wished to work for Google.

I said Meahul don’t think much about the past that cannot be reprimanded. Rather you need to focus on future. I made him talk to one of my students luckily who was working with Google at Hyderabad. That had boosted his morale and I could observe the spark in his eyes. The other three days were quite satisfying. Meahul was in his uniform. I asked him, why was he in the uniform, he said, “Ma’am I am the part of this class and UPES. Though we come from different backgrounds, yet it the uniform which makes us look alike. WE need to work in team. Uniform reminds us always about our team. How can I isolate myself from the team?”

Class listened to his words with absolute silence and rewarded it with loud applauds. For a year, I was in regular touch with Meahul. I knew that he was doing extremely well and had always put his best foot front.

Day when I saw him and his message, I took his achievement as my accomplishment. I must thank Meahul for being honest to himself and for his firm determination.

The half-an-hour spent with Meahul and his short interaction with one of students cleared the haziness that he had over his performance and he excelled ultimately. Thoughts mushroomed and it got connected with the right cord which helped Meahul to taste the sweet fruit of success.

As a trainer my journey is still on…