It has not been many days after the Convocation day. That day I took my certificate and happened to scan how life was shaping after stepping out of college. The feeling of being a college student hasn't even died and the responsibilities-laden life has already kick-started. “Change happens very quickly...” I said to myself, “...or so it seems”. Life is evolving everyday, at least under the surface, and we are moving from one milestone to other. 'Becoming an engineer' is one such milestone.
There are millions of engineers out there. I don't feel very special on such a feat, at least not more than my parents. Why? I belong to a very small place, were education has just started to find its roots. When I finished 10th grade, I was the most educated person in my family, the joint family. Completing graduation means a lot much more, and 'Engineer'- that's way too much! Whenever I hear my parents tell this to me, I get that urge to do something about it, but anyways, that's another part of the story.
What's part of this story is how life is shaping these days. Take a look around - things have changed dramatically. Some of these changes we have always wanted, some we have not been comfortable with while some unwanted. From college desk to cubicle, the migration is huge. Suddenly, people have started considering us mature and responsible. They have changed the perspective towards us. We are answerable for our deeds. You cannot rise into the bed in the morning and say “Let’s bunk today and do a road-trip” unless it is weekend, or not even then. Oh yes, ‘weekend’ is another important aspect. Now we don’t see a year as 365 days but rather as 52 weekends. We are changing or are we growing up?
Life has become a serious business now. We are falling to stability and security. A ‘rat-race’ in other words. 'Paying fees' to 'being paid' is a hell of a difference, at least for me. Very soon, we will start talking about promotion, raise and what not. It reminds me of the incident from the film Jerry Maguire (1996), when Tom Cruise is fired from SMI. While he is leaving his company he shouts “Who’s coming with me?” and asks a colleague, “Wendy, shall we?” and pat comes the reply from Wendy, “Jerry, I’m three months away from the pay increase”. You see, it’s all part of the race.
I am not saying anything of this is good or bad. I am not judging. Frankly, I don't know myself. Everything is part of life, yes, goddamn part of life. All you can do is, brag or grumble about it. Or go from one change to other comfortably, enjoying and living in the moment!
