Aug 18: Wandering here & there in my hometown before Aug 18, 2011, the day i entered into MEPZ (the place where i thought only the super genius can survive and eventually came to know that it is the other way around - the place where the super genius can't even survive for a jiffy moment :-D) Fortunately, my school friends were over there in those days. Playing cricket, reading Davinci-code, getting scoldings from my dad are the hobbies:-). One of my bestie joined Cognizant before my day comes. First thing i asked, ‘Can i play cricket over there?’ A big NO from him. Little upset as cricket is my first love. Probably the only love at that time!!
Aug 22: At last the day comes and i entered into cognizant. Initially i was sent to Sholinganallur branch with my close friends and then after a week transferred to Siruseri academy. Days went fine with some new cute friends until i became a batch-rep:-). As a mere trainee, had lots & lots of fun. When it came to represent a batch, responsibilities weighed me more and i felt it. In the beginning, to be frank, I don’t want to represent. No one in my batch was ready to stand-up and it forced me to take up the role. In the early days, i struggled a bit (bit more :P). Informal to office, sending mails without subject & signature, unread mails, little nap during the meeting hours, inattentive during the classes - things that a representative not supposed to make but which i really did. Of course, better right now but who cares. Everyone's will be a boring success story if no mistakes early on.
Sep 30: Unforgettable day in my life. Got my first salary. Pretty happy than any one else - dialogue used by everyone :-) Nevertheless, it is special - how can i get the first salary again. Thanks to Cognizant.
Oct 12: Here comes the stupidity - exams. Cleared fundas (every software person must know these fishy words other wise they will be marooned during the chats & breaks and it is the sole reason for every software person to watch famous english movies, late night football world cup matches, english serials and so on. Nothing for the interest sake or for the knowledge sake and of course both are cared little now-a-days. Coming to the word, it is actually fundamentals. Most of the software guys don't know the exact word meaning but they know how to pronounce fundas stylishly :-D) and the first module with ease which made me to take the second module lightly. Eventually, it paid me as i didn’t clear it. First time in my life, got flunk :-). I was more upset and it was the day just before Diwali. I felt really bad going home with a backlog. Spent the leisure time at home with the thoughts of my backlog. Really don’t want to repeat this again. For that, i thought i should not forget the moment i failed. How can I remember this date for long? When it became the thing that we use daily. When it became the thing that we love more.
No surprise, i made the date as my debit card pin number. Thing which is used more often by a person who has been paid for the first time:-) In fact, it paid me even more heavily as I didn’t clear in my second attempt too. This time I prepared well but i don’t know where it went wrong. I was perplexed and asked my friend What to do??. He told me to get another bank account :-D.
Oct 25: Nothing worse can get added to my birthday month as i failed in the third module also. Decided not to remember these tragedies as i was getting bombarded from each and every corner. Changed everything. I mean, my ATM pins:-)
Nov 01: Come on man, I needed a break. So I scheduled my fourth module pretty late. Adding to all my worries, I was escalated for not scheduling the modules at the right time. Thanks to the moment where and when, i came to know what is meant by responsibility. I became somewhat brighter around this time to take my fourth module. My trainer advised me a lot before taking up this module. So I want to prove him badly that i will get through.
Nov 23: Prepared well. Did some changes like wearing my favorite lucky blue shirt, taking my friend’s bike instead of mine, wearing different helmet, having coffee instead of tea:-) It looks silly but what is life without some silly things. And finally i cleared with a decent score. Happy moment after long long time. Called my friends and told them happily that i cleared. Regained some confidence in myself.
Nov 24: I started to love my responsibilities as a batch-rep though it weighed me heavy. Admired it from there on. Thanks to all of my batch mates for giving a best support and courage to me. Thanks a lot:-). My trainer’s period in Cognizant got over. We gave him a nice send-off and he enjoyed that moment.
Fifth module. This time I didn’t want to repeat those silly activities like blue shirt, friend’s bike and all. Persisted with my own. Unfortunately, I failed this time too. But this time i wasn't worried as I was before.
Dec 01: All the modules of my domain were completed. Everybody relieved as everything got over in the academy. I had something in me those days which made me not to worry about things that were not working for me and that were not in my hands. Scheduled all my retest within a short span of time and i cleared everything with my very own bike :-).
Dec 05: Started MFRP (My First Real-time Project) and involved in that work. Another day that needs to be remembered - Mentor manager came to our class for the first time. As soon as she started to speak about our work in BU, we felt happy that we could finish our MFRP work. Mentor took a photograph of her welcome invitation and left the class happily which eventually meant everybody in my batch will reach the BU (Business Unit).
Responsibilities will always be harder when you grow high. It is up to you to decide whether to stay at the same level or to move on towards the next level. Will be easy to stay at the same level but when you look back at your life after years, there won't be any single moment to cherish, there won't be any single moment to share with your kids, there won't be any single moment for remembrance. People should admire you and not love you because love will always expects something back. Whatever comes easy wont stay for long. Try for the hardest and live for it.
