I have a Dream
I distinctly remember a class last year taken by one of our professors Mr. CD Mitra. Before we start, I would like to give a small brief about the professor. Prof. Mitra passed out of IIT Kharagpur in 1986, got done with his MBA from IIMC in 1988, was President of Students’ Council in IIMC, dropped out of placement process to pursue his interest in advertising, worked for 20 odd years in advertising and went on to become President of Lintas and Mudra Max, later quit his job to become a free-lance consultant, an academician and a budding entrepreneur. He was also one of the designers of the opening ceremony of Common Wealth Games in India.
The professor was called for a special session on marketing as final placements for 45/15 batch were about to commence in a few days. But, he chose to speak on a different topic altogether – Dreams. He asked the students to think of their dreams, the one thing they really wanted to do in life and the one thing they would want to do in the future in absence of the constraints imposed on them by society, environment and their own selves.
Some students shared the dreams they most cherished. One of us wanted to be the owner of a football club and work in the sports industry. About his status right now, he is working in marketing and contemplating quitting his job as he has an offer from a firm in sports consulting. Another wanted to join the United Nations (which she has already done!). And there were many more dreams – from being an entrepreneur to being a spiritual teacher! Surprisingly, there was not a single soul who really dreamt about that job in Finance, HR, Marketing or Consulting. The job was just a part and parcel of life, not life itself.
And then, the professor spoke about how, when a person is inside the placement process, he/she treats it as a matter of life and death – as if life offers no other alternative. How competition reaches newer peaks and how people weep, struggle and sometimes, give up. This, for something that they do not believe is a passion or a dream in their life.
And today, as another batch stands on the verge of their placements, I ask you to do what Prof. Mitra asked of us – to think of your real dream, that one thing that you sincerely wish to do in life. What you really seek to accomplish – be it playing in a rock band, or becoming a mountaineer or a wildlife photographer. And think of this dream if you are stuck in the middle of the placement process wondering when will it get over and just remember that this is not what you are really seeking out of your life. And when you are going for that “coveted” job interview, know that the society covets it more than you really do.
And I urge you to do one more thing that the professor asked of us. He asked, “When are you going to fulfill all these dreams you have? Do not postpone them forever. Set a deadline for your dream. And then, take that job which might help you attain your dream.” Don’t be bogged down by constraints, know it is possible and move in the direction you always wanted to head towards.
Today, I implore you to do the same two things – dream and believe. And when you are outside the interview room, know that there are much bigger things that await you in life. After all, a job is just that – a job. It does not define you or your existence. It is but a mere shadow of what you really are. A success or failure in getting a shortlist or converting one is hardly a true reflection of the potential within you or of the dream you intend to achieve. So, as you head into the placement process, I would like to leave you with one of my favourite quotes:
Shadows appear very big, much bigger than you, but they have no existence. Smaller the light, bigger the shadow appears. If it is total darkness, then also there is no shadow. So partial knowledge, a partial light, partial vision, brings the shadow. And it makes the shadow appear very huge, very big. But know it is just a shadow - SSRS
Shreyans"
