A Smile: The Universal Language of Connection

Day one of your degree college would be filled with a lot of excitement, anxiety, and nervousness. But when it comes to my case it was only nervousness. My first conversation on day 1 of my college life started when someone asked me What is your name? I could manage to reply with my name and even reciprocate with "What's your name?" But beyond that, I felt lost, not sure what else to ask, I had this fear of being asked something I might not understand. So, just smiled and ended the conversation there. This was the unforgettable memory of day 1 at NMKRV College for Women in Bengaluru.

My journey to the happening city of Bengaluru was a leap of faith. My family believed in my potential (I never believed though), and my aunty took responsibility and supported my education. The transition was challenging. I was determined to adapt (but it was difficult) to it, and my main defense was #Sports. I was a little good at that in my school and college days. So I opted for sports as a main weapon to mix with my classmates as I was unable to mix with them otherwise due to my communication issues. The college administration used to organize sports events to help the newcomers to know each other better. During these events, I was able to start conversations and communicate with my classmates in my broken English as I was good at sports and was a good player for the team. Actually, If I have to specify my conversation was not even sentences just broken words here and there. Through this, I discovered that a #smile could bridge any communication gap. In those moments, a simple smile became my universal language. I hope all agree that a smile can contribute a lot to a positive environment.

Looking back, I realize that I could have started learning English early in my life at least when I entered my degree college. Those years were valuable and important. But I missed out on those three years of learning just thinking that I would never work in an environment where English would be the primary mode of communication. I was not focusing on developing my English language skills at that time. Instead, I dedicated my time to building my skills and networks in Kannada journalism (I am proud that I was part of Kannada journalism at one point of time in my life). I was preparing myself to enter the working world soon, as I wanted to take some responsibilities for my family (need at that time).

In my very first year of college, I began my journey in the media world with an internship at well-known Kannada newspapers. Surprisingly, even before completing my degree, this experience opened the door to a career in the media industry! I felt incredibly proud when I became part of Kannada's first 24x7 news channel #TV9 Kannada Associated Broadcasting Co. Pvt Ltd (TV9) and I was among the pioneers. I will share my media experiences in my future blogs very soon.

After five memorable years in the media, life took a sudden turn, and I had to take a one-year break from my work. I wanted to explore new fields after my break but not completely out of media-related work. At that time, I got an opportunity to be a part of the world of education. I joined the Karnataka Govt. project Kanaja, handled by my current organisation, International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (#IIITB). I was not aware that this decision of mine would lead to an 11-year-long productive journey.

When I started at #IIITBangalore, it was a close-knit group with a small number of staff. So I got an opportunity to meet our director on day one of my work here. I will never forget the day when Ramachandra A N sir, IIIT-B's registrar at that time, introduced me to the Director Sowmya Narayanan Sadagopan sir. Now, the twist is my English was not perfect, and I was comfortable with just Kannada (I am proud of my language though). But the Director understood my situation and said, "I will teach you English and You teach me Kannada; it is not a difficult task I guess. We both can do this easily”. It was really a surprise for me as the head of the institute was very humble and tried to make me feel comfortable in that space. ?His words created a positive vibe and I have been a part of this journey ever since.

This journey has truly been a challenging one but it has been exceptionally fulfilling and enriching in many ways. I got the opportunity to interact with the lively student community on campus and handle multiple responsibilities, demanding not only effective language and communication skills but also great patience.

Learning is a lifelong journey that never ends. At #IIITB, the spirit of continuous learning is strongly encouraged. Keeping in this mind, I thought to join a course that would help me to understand more about the digital marketing space. I recently, enrolled in an Advanced Digital Marketing course with AI tools. I would like to share that this blog is not just a casual piece of writing, it is a part of my coursework assignment. For this, I would like to thank one of my instructors Santhej Kallada for insisting us to sharing our insights and experiences through the medium of a blog. So stay tuned for more blogs like this in the future!

Coming back to my work, 11 years at #IIITBangalore have taught me invaluable life lessons. The students here continue to inspire me each and every day, and the memories and connections I have made here at #IIITB are priceless.

I am sure a lot of you can relate to my language difficulty story. We all have moments when we doubt ourselves, and stop doing things that could benefit us in a variety of ways. But we discover our true potential when we step outside of our comfort zone. Uncertain moments often teach us worthy lessons and bring our hidden talents out. So, if you ever feel unsure, just remember that taking a chance at something new can always lead to surprises! I hope all agree on this.

At this stage, I would like to quote one of my senior colleagues' words-"You might not have perfect communication skills, but your dedication, positive attitude, and friendly smile can manage what even the most powerful words cannot." These words left a positive impression on me and whenever I feel inferior I remember this and move forward.

It's the key to building bridges, making friends, and chasing dreams. So, let's keep spreading positivity, making each day a little brighter for ourselves and those around us. Our journey towards success is painted with cheerful steps and happy hearts.

#PositiveVibes #LanguageJourney #NeverGiveUp