The Beginning – Part 1

Although this is technically the end of my immediate college career, I’m starting to see that it’s the beginning for the rest of my life. Yesterday there was an awards night for all the BME students graduating tomorrow. There were awards, honors, speeches, and a formal dinner. This event really started to kick in the feeling that I am ready to move on into the real world. There were two quotes from the speeches that really stuck with me. One of them was from a friend’s speech: “You may be one person in the world, but to one person, you may be the world”. I know initially this quote seems a little misplaced for a graduation speech. However, that one person can be a parent, who has poured in every drop of effort in raising a child; it can be a sibling or a friend who has stuck through all the different scenarios of life. Personally, I thought it was brilliant to stick in this quote because we graduates are going to be embarking on the journey call life starting June 16th. And it ‘s very important to keep those people close to you no matter how far away life takes you.

The second quote was from a PhD candidate who was also graduating: “Be honest, work hard, and success is bound to follow”. This is so much easier said than done. But based on the successful people I know, this quote is the literal representation of who they are. Reflecting back on these past five years in college, I definitely remember times where it was very difficult to be hardworking and persevering, especially during finals week where you’re a sleep-deprived mess of a human being. But nonetheless, this quote is a mantra that every person should live by if they want to taste success. I find though also that the keys to surviving and doing well in college is time-management, patience, and mental endurance. This is purely based on personal experience. I’ve learned to procrastinate a little less, be more patient, and be willing to pull allnighters to get the job done. I hope to keep these quotes in mind as I start take my next steps.

Dreams

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it. – Paulo Coelho

One of my all time favorite books is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It’s a book about so many things. I had to read it twice to even get a grasp of what the point of the book was. The first time I read it, I got the superficial layout. There’s a boy named Santiago and he goes on a journey to find this place he’s been literally dreaming about for days. He comes across some interesting people and situations but he eventually gets to his destination. That’s pretty much the layout of the entire story. When I brought myself to re-read the book for a second time, things made much more sense. It’s not just a book about a journey. It’s a book about finding yourself and being content with the decisions you make in life and paving your own way. Coelho writes so eloquently and simply, the allegorical story of life. We learn, we believe, and we dream. And if we’re lucky enough, we achieve the dream. Everyone goes through these motions at one point or other in their life, it’s just that not many people take the time to realize this. As we move through life, our dreams and goals change. We see new things, observe new events or ideologies, meet new people, and in the course of all this, we ourselves evolve.

In the story Santiago is a shepherd who wanders the hills of Spain with his sheep. He leaves his family in search of the world and all that it has to offer. This whole concept sounds awfully familiar. Whether young or old, most humans are usually ambitiously in search of something. There aren’t very many people I have met who are undoubtedly content with themselves and their way of life. As much as some people try, no life lived is without regrets. But when you truly and purely want something in life, chances are you’ll get it. This book is also about having faith; not just faith in a higher entity but also faith in yourself. When you start having faith in yourself (not overconfidence or ego) things just start falling into place. There is a certain calm that comes with this, which is frankly unexplainable, and can only be experienced.

I think this is one book everyone must read. I know I’ve tried pushing certain people to read it (you know who you are) simply because I think the message behind the book is so pure and enlightening and it really makes you question a lot of things in life (in a good way).