Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone deserves a second chance.

Today I am going to talk about an incident that took place while I was in tenth grade. Some mischiefs that we do when we are young, and it puts an impression for life long. I remember it was our inter-school field hockey competition and we were actually visiting the other school this time.

We caught the Pune Municipal Corporation public transport bus and along with the team our sports teacher Mrs. Bose was also accompanying us. Mrs. Bose told us before leaving the school ground, that if we win the game with other schools, then she is going to take us to a big expensive restaurant for lunch and everyone got excited. This was teams first trip to go out of the home ground and play otherwise, usually our school is always the host.

We reached the host's school ground and got introduced to the scorer, selector and coaches and teachers of other schools and went back to our seating area. After looking at the lists and exchanging the team players names with the main scorer and selector, our teacher came and said, girls are you ready to win? and we all roared in one chorus yeah!!!!!

Everyone took their position, I was at left center half position and we played like a team. Team was very good in passing and I was always the one who was fast in hitting the ball so as soon the ball came to me I hit it and it was a goal!!!! Everyone cheered us and we team hugged and back to work, our opponent team was not happy and they started playing foul by hitting with the hockey stick left and right. Some got the warning and some got out of the team but we did get injured. I still remember after that win when we gathered and my school teacher said to me you have been selected as I saw your name on the list, I was on ninth cloud and suddenly my teacher said where's that blood coming from, on your shoe? It was a white colored shoe and a drop of blood fell on it and I didn't realize that I was hit by that hockey stick and the blood was coming from my right hand thumb. 

"Grown ups are complicated creatures, full of quirks and secrets." ~ Roald Dahl 

Immediately first-aid was arranged and everything was taken care. We were done here and were supposed to be out for lunch so everyone was happy. After a great lunch at the restaurant we headed to go back to our school and then home. As we all were excited everyone was happy and felt as if we rule the world. It's that age and the win and the appreciation, it was all that effect and we ran to sit in the bus on the last seat. 

"Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts." ~ Nikki Giovani

We all sat and were talking loud and suddenly there was a guy who got into the bus and sat in front of us. He was big and the two-seater seat was fully taken by him and in a funny way I said, who's this elephant? I was not expecting that he would be able to hear me but the moment he turned back I, immediately apologized as suddenly I felt that's not me.

"You have to make mistakes to find out who you aren't. You take the action, and the insight follows: You don't think your way into becoming yourself." ~ Anne Lamott

It seems the guy also recognized that, because the way my face expression changed and I apologized - he said its okay but you shouldn't say that to anyone. I thanked him.

That day and till now, I have never made fun of anyone. I don't judge anyone. I have come to the understanding that everyone has their own story and we are no one to pass judgement to anyone. Let's live and let other's live. Life has so much to offer just enjoy and share your happiness if you can and move along.

"You need to give yourself permission to be human." ~ Joyce Brothers

~ Dawn

Note: Now you can listen to the audio version of my blogs in Hindi on the UshaDawn Hindi Podcast on Google, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Check it out and new episodes uploaded every day 3 AM Pacific Standard Time

Change is the end result of all true learning...!

 

Today I thought to write about education. Something that is universally noted about and something about my personal experience.

Education is basically someone teaching the knowledge that they have learned and another person who is receiving this education from the person who is educated and is well versed on it. These kinds are formal education which basically every child must get it in their life - Elementary, Middle and High-School education through an institution. Once this is completed kids should be able to decide about their further education in colleges.

In some place not everyone is lucky to get a formal education but yet with their hard work and determination they do well in life through their experience and informal learnings.

I believe, education is not only to make money but it also helps one learn things which could be of social aspects or technology or information on some historic events etc. Yes, definitely education changes life as there are data that shows just a single extra year of schooling can increase an individual's earnings by up to 10% and if all students in low income countries left school with basic reading skills, it could pull 171 million people out of poverty.

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." ~ John Dewey

I come from a family where my parents couldn't complete their college degree due to financial situation but they made sure their kids gets the education. I studied under Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus. Since I grew up in National Defense Academy in Pune, there were lot of privileges that I received and I am very thankful for the same.

After my high-school I was determined about doing college and after that my masters as well. Unlike other parents, my parents never forced me to choose a specific field or subject and I really feel very thankful for that. Because this gave me freedom to choose what I want to do in life and at the same time be responsible for what I choose. 

Being a science student and living in the Defense Academy, research faculty attracted me often. I completed my college degree in Chemistry. I wanted to do my masters in Chemistry as Organic Chemistry or Bio-Chemistry but to my surprise, at some place I was in waiting list and at some place I would have to move to a different place /city and live in hostel. My parents were not ready for that, hence I never lived in hostel or dorm. I don't have any experience of living away from home during that time.

"Education is not a problem, education is an opportunity." ~ Lyndon Johnson

But I did my masters in Labor Laws and Labor Welfare - this was more when industrialization was kicking in and my degree would help me find the right kind of job.

One thing is education is not only to get jobs though its one of the benefit, yet we learn a lot by being educated about things, in my case the laws, basic rights of a worker and how a company or business owner can take advantage of workers by not letting them know about their rights etc. I am a people person and probably that's the reason my interest in the subject was deep and sincere. I came first in Pune University.

I got my job immediately in a well reputed company in India and to my surprise I was the one who was guiding the company corporate leaders by educating on the labor laws and what they can do and what they cannot. But this also gave me an opportunity to educate the workers about their rights, who didn't even know how to read or write.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." ~ Albert Einstein

I would have loved living that life where I am educating what I learned and also helping those who have been misused the rights. But destiny had something else for me and I land up in Canada.

Long story short, I never gave up the opportunity to learn and even now I am learning. It's not the formal education but on the job I learn everyday. My field from labor laws changes into technology. I had to learn about the products, the benefits and the features of it. How do they work for customers or users with technology and the list goes on.

When I look back, I feel if I was still with labor laws probably I would have become an activist fighting for poor and helpless people's rights and today here I am not an activist but strive to enhance the user experience and make sure the enhancement gets done on time.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." ~ Nelson Mandela 

Who would have thought that I will be working in the software industry at all? 

Life can take you anywhere, it can give you challenges provided you're ready to lead it by being open to learning. The day learning stops, I understand I am done but for now there's long way to go as I am still learning about new technology and ways to work around.

"Learn continually - there's always 'one more thing' to learn!" ~ Steve Jobs

~ Dawn

Learning

 

Life is all about learning and experience

Everyday you learn something new and 

Sometimes you learn to unlearn things

No matter, over the period we will grow 

But to grow from inside one has to learn

Keep your mind open like welcoming doors

So that you're open to learn from everyone

Experienced or inexperienced you always benefit 

Never leave a chance of learning from others

And then a time comes when you learn to give exam,

Life itself is a battle field where you face challenges

We all try one or the other way to overcome those

Keep pushing yourself so you don't get too comfortable

Learn something new everyday with a goal in mind

And have that drive to meet your goal

As learning never stops at any age!

~ Dawn