Everything has changed, and yet nothing has changed! Reflections on our 25 year reunion

Graduation Day, 25 years ago, armed with our degrees, and hopes of a promising start to our corporate careers, we said our final goodbyes. None of us could’ve ever imagined how our lives would unfold over the next 25!

What is fascinating about lifelong friendships from our university days, is how time seems to stand still, and you pick up just where you left off, even decades later. Everything has changed, and yet …nothing has really changed!

As I reflect on my journey, one thing stands out. My life is better for having met this quirky bunch.

Something about the onset of greys and our impending 25 year reunion fuels me to share unsolicited advice that no one really wants. ?? Because… why not! We’ve certainly earned the nostalgia!

Class of ‘23,

Your generation is a lot wiser than ours was. So I hope you take our learnings in, with curiosity and a healthy pinch of salt!

25 years ago, we were you. Gulping down endless cups of chai and gupshup in equal measure, glued to the steps of our hostels, throwing stones at each others’ windows,? gaining culinary stardom cooking Maggi on a hot plate after a late night and sharing it between way too many people to make any sense, complaining endlessly about DH (Dining hall) food and yet lining up for it, ‘volunteering’ at Panjrapole more as a source of their endless amusement, passing the silliest notes in class, playing truant thinking teachers didn’t notice (oh, but they did!), running perpetually late on assignments… In fact, we ‘motivated’ (read: begged) one classmate to do THE Information Systems assignment for the ENTIRE batch because no one else really had a clue as to what was happening! Yes, he lords it over us even today! Thankfully the IS course didn’t determine our destiny. Despite all our escapades and adventures, we turned out ok, I think!

25 years ago, sitting where you sit today, I had a very narrow definition of success, and didn’t even know it. Success seemed to be about pay and promotions and the life it could unlock. And both of those things are important, but far less than I thought.

I hope that as you look at my classmates and I, you see that as different as we may be, and our paths may be, we have so much more that is similar. Our experience at TISS has been the springboard for epic adventures, new horizons, and meaningful impact.

One of us opted out of an HR career to pursue Indian Administrative Service and is immensely successful, impacting communities around us through her work. While a couple of us moved away from HR to pursue their passion to teach and are instrumental in building enlightened future generations.

One of us decided to become an entrepreneur very early on that had nothing to do with HR, and built a successful business. Some of us pursued international careers in a blur of companies and continents, while one of us chose to grow in the same company for 25 years across many amazing fulfilling roles and is hugely successful as well.

Some of us maximized our impact enabling multi billion dollar global businesses while some of us helped start ups soar and realize their true potential. Oh, and some of us tried our hands at both.

Some of us became consultants early in our career, some of us chose to be entrepreneurs later in our careers.

Some of us followed our minds, some of us followed our hearts, but all of us found ways to blend both in ways that were unique to us.

Some of us have spent the last few years in athleleisure and can’t imagine wearing a suit again, while some of us live in a suit everyday.

Some of us love what we do. Some of us just love that we do something.

One of us is a published author. One of us is first in line to use every new tech as a creator, even though he is not the most naturally gifted techie ??

One of us hosts a podcast, because every batch has to have at least one weird one! ??

Some of us had the courage to step out of the corporate world when it felt more like a rat race, than a meaningful marathon. Some of us battled the rat race to make it a meaningful marathon.

We all found fulfillment in different pursuits. Some of us found our purpose and chose to live by it. Some of us powered our career and life based on our values. We have all had a bit of meaningful impact in our own way.

I hope that when you see us, you see that success looks like a lot of different things and that there is no such thing as an ideal career path or career plan.

So, get to know who you are, what makes you unique, what makes you happy, what gives your work meaning, what fulfills you, what excites you, what inspires you, what you love to do, what you can’t live without, what you hate to do, what hurts you, what triggers you and why. This foundation can help you shape your journey.

May your dreams be boundless, your optimism unbridled, your adventures awe-inspiring, your innovation impactful, and your happiness limitless.? May you do more of what you love, and love more of what you do, may you revel in the learning and joy of discovery and add a dollop of magic to everything you touch.

Explore, experiment, soar! We are cheering you on!

What is one piece of advice that you would share with students graduating and beginning their careers? Share in comments ??

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Meaning of :

1. Chai - Tea

2. Gupshup - Chat

3. Maggi - Instant noodle brand owned by Nestle

4. DH - Dining hall (cafeteria)

5. Panjrapole - An area with slums