Two decades and growing stronger!

Today marks my twentieth work anniversary! Woahhhhhh – that is a long time huh – considering how young I am – by age, heart, mind, soul, and energy ??

Well, to put this in simple words – I started working at a very young age. Do I have any regrets about it? – NOPE, NOT AT ALL. In fact, all the hard work and energy put behind working in the last twenty years have taught me a lot and helped me grow as an individual.

I started with a mere Rs. 500 and NO LAPTOP (like most have had ??) – well I am not sure if they did exist, but who would have thought of trusting a school kid with a computer, let alone a laptop.

It was the 7th day after the big examination we all dread about. I assisted my math teacher (my favorite and we are still in touch – FYI) and since the concepts were so fresh on my mind, I would have all the answers, steps, methods dug deep into my head. Any student who came up to me with a doubt had to just show me the question and without looking at the numbers or heading – there I was, ready with the answer. I moved on to graduation, post- graduation just like you all did – but I never stopped working. On some days, I would be awake till 2am and have work again at 8am the next day – yet I don’t remember having bunked my lectures any day (A little secret here – I must have dozed off during my lectures).

All through the two decades, I fell maybe a hundred times – but I was adamant enough to get up, dust myself and start afresh. I have had my teachers support me all throughout. At times during my post-graduation days, few professors used to tell me: How come you reach college on time even if it is a 9am lecture on a Sunday morning? (FYI – I used to travel almost two hours to reach my college). And then some others would say: Divya, please smile a bit – you look good. Why are you so serious? (For those who know me might not want to believe this – right?).

At work, a lot of my seniors and my peers did support me. Some challenges have made me so strong today and taught me invaluable lessons I cannot forget in a lifetime. Being a workaholic (not anymore, I think??), colleagues from across the world have supported me whenever it was an urgent and/or important task to be closed. I want to also thank those not-so-good times and individuals – they taught me to see both sides of the world.

At times, I have thought of hanging up my boots and say “I am done” – but there is a long way to go and the energy in me does not allow me to stop so soon.

I have had a bunch of friends who have supported me in the last two decades – they have seen the best and the not-so-best of me. Some have even stayed on call with me for an hour or more just because there were days when I had to travel back late nights from college / work – a big “Thank You” to you.

And last but never ever the least – MY FAMILY – they have been rock-solid support to me in all the crazy things I have done and the crazy schedules in the last twenty years. They have stayed up late for me to reach home, or even picked me up after college / work; my mum made sure I carried four meals a day even if I had to leave home in the wee hours of the morning, my sister – brother-in-law were there whenever needed without an iota of doubt. These days, my niece is my biggest motivation – she pushes me to do better and even knows my projects and what I do (and can even write an article or two about my work, thanks to the pandemic ??).

Today, I have moved from the different roles I played in the past, taken up a challenging assignment, but of all that I learnt in these years – I know I have grown stronger. I still have my own perceptions; I have my own wow-moments and meh-moments; – but I know each of these make me a rock-solid person. Over the time, I have learnt to be determined, disciplined, and dedicated towards everything I want to do. I have learnt to be resilient, to be agile.

I STAND STRONG!

This article is to mark two decades of my work anniversary and to thank everyone who crossed my path, supported me, and made me who I am. Thank you to each one of you – YOU MADE ME!

Quoting one of my favorite professors – Trying and failing is okay. Not trying, is not okay.

Here's to many more battles and winning at life! Happy twentieth to me ??

Cheers to lifelong of fun and learning!

Love and peace,

Divya