Farewell to George Mason University

Every beginning has an end. And every end is a new beginning. It's a relentless cycle seen in every aspect of our lives. College graduation is no exception. A year starts; a year ends, only to give birth to another. That is how I felt for two and half years. As much as I anticipate the start of a new year, I know that fate says it will cease. The weeks pass and I engulf myself in all things related to college life: studying hard, working even harder, debating on every decision made. But, somewhere in the back of my mind, I know that as every week passes, the end draws near.

This past weekend and the weekends upcoming marks for most colleges a tradition simply known as—Graduation—a day set aside to honor those who got through college with hard work, some with luck, but everyone who will cherish every last minute of their college life. Bittersweet to say the least.

For two to three years(for some, it's been 6-7 years), everyone who wore the green robe(George Mason University) have put their heart and soul into trying hard to win this game called college life. They've logged hundreds of hours with the books, in front of the computers/laptops, and many sleepless nights in the couches. And let's not forget the time spent in class to fulfill academic requirements—the lectures, the exams, the labs, and the study groups. No, it hasn't been easy, but it has been worth every minute. They've tried their best to be the best, and have probably succeeded, some failed, but nevertheless everyone experienced college life and learned a lot through the years. They've laughed; they've cried; they've leaped; they've fallen down; they've felt the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

But now it's over.

It's like, when the whistle blows at the end of the fourth quarter, it'll be the last time they'll hear that sound on their home field. The last time they'll stand in the middle of thousands upon thousands of adoring fans. The last time they'll hear the band play the music that carried them through the years.

Sure, many of the grads will find a job and even earn large paychecks for doing what they love to do, or at least trying to, but deep inside their beings they know that it won't measure up to the fun they had in college. Because it is a professional world out there, and everyone has to grow up being who they will eventually be. Life never lets us be kids forever. What every one of us dreamed about since we started college - A happy job with paychecks giving us the freedom to do whatever we want to. The dream was in every way exactly how you imagined it to be.

On this graduation day, most of them will have their parents or friends on the sidelines to hug and smile and most assuredly take pictures, trying to freeze this moment in time. You can feel the warmth when they hug you, they are feeling the same emotion but somehow can't describe it. And when you look up into the stands, up at them as they watch in awe of such a spectacle, it is worth framing the seconds. To all those whose family couldn't make it on that day, I bet you, there were thousands of people cheering you, you were not alone. And especially there is always a close friend of yours, who would be there to cheer for you, make sure you are not alone, who, even as you promise you would be there for their graduation, knows the utter lie behind that commitment.

Finally, the whistle has blown, the game is over, it's time to go home. And as these players walk out through the tunnel one last time, another group is coming in for the first. So begins the cycle once again.

Thanks for the memories, George Mason University. IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT.
To all the graduates, good luck in whatever the future holds.

Mason Graduate 2011

One last hurdle to cross, but that is just a meter tall... Done with the defense and my thesis was approved this afternoon. Weeks of sleepless days n nights, tensed moments, craving for results, etc.., is all over. Now all I need to do is make the modifications to my thesis and submit it on Friday. When I think of it now, it was all worth it !!
For once felt like I deserved it , given the amount of effort i put on this. It was my baby and I took care of it rather well. I will cherish this moment forever, and would hope for many more challenges ahead, where i can prove myself. After all, life's journey never ends...

Mason Graduate 2011, the name says it all.... Thanks to all those kind hearts that supported me.. ♥ u all....

Thesis defense and Convocation pics will be uploaded soon.

I told you I cannot stay away from my blog!

Nights after posting that I would not blog till I finish my thesis, I have posted one and visited my blog quite a few times. Guess that is what my blog does to me. Well, I decided to write this conjointly with my thesis writing because after all I need a break from my work! Of course, I am refraining myself from friends and family, coz I get involved in some random talk which would eat up my time, but hey, who is gonna disturb me now apart from myself ;)

As I write this, many thoughts run into my mind -- this would be my 5th presentation in College, 8th in the US! Even after giving so many presentations, I still don't possess a formal suit. Makes me wonder why.. Not that I cannot afford it, but just that I never got a chance to wear one. For presentations in the University, we could always wear a jeans and shirt :) and even better - in Intel, one of the leading hardware companies in the world, my presentations never demanded me to be dressed formal. But this is a big moment in my life, I am presenting my work in the last 1 year or so, and they expect me to be dressed in a business-like suit. So will head to Macy's or JCP or the likes this week and look around for one. Will hopefully find one in my size. Ah, speaking of my size, is it thesis that made me lose weight or am i really losing weight coz of other reasons ??!??! Again, it is hard to find a suit for my size because, I am 'Size 2' and not many shops have suits for my size. GGGGrrrrr....:|

So, say I find a suit, you would wonder what next? 17th is my thesis defense and once the committee approves of it, which I hope they will (after grilling me of course), I would have to make any changes they suggest and submit before 5pm on Friday the 20th. And then PAaaaaRrrrrTttttttYyyyyy TIME :D

Oh yeah, I need to buy another dress... And guess what it is for !??!? My convocation on the 19th. After all, achievements deserve a little pat on the back.

Well, I will not celebrate as yet. Days of work ahead for me, and my sleepless nights are gonna continue for a week or so.. Will get back once I am done.

Mesmerised in her thoughts...

I might be old enough to face life, but every minute there's a big decision involved in life, I consult her. She is someone who taught me to take decisions in life, so she knows I would never be wrong, but the happiness she feels when I seek her advice, its worth it to see those few seconds of smile on her face.

However, when I was little, "I'm gonna tell your mom" was the scariest sentence ever. But that scare turned into joy every time, because I always got maximum love from the lady who could do nothing wrong for me. She had been tolerant to all my mistakes, kept all my secrets, inspired me to try, and when I failed she made me try again.

Proud to say, "That’s my Mom"... And MAA KASAM, I LOVE YOU :)

Loads of respect from your ever-loving daughter...

Almost after a year....

I just realized how much I missed my blog! Yeah, it's been almost a year, and I haven't signed off a single post -- Thanks to my work :(
With my thesis coming to an end this May, and me graduating, I hope i would have time in the future to concentrate on blogging!

Till then, Adios amigos.
Take care.