Just a year back around the same time, I struggled to find a path for myself, confused and unsure about where my future lay. And it's funny how things turned out to be, as I sit at home awaiting the second year of my MBA at IIM Shillong. What a difference a year can make. It took just 365 days and a bit of luck and hard work to transform these feelings of despair and hope, to one of confidence and assurance.
So, now sometimes people would question as to what changed and how this change came about. And a year removed, I realized that the most potent arsenal in your kit remains the belief you place in your self. People fail to realize that there is no additional skill set required to push you through the tough times. It's the power of believing in your abilities and talents, which will eventually guide your ship through the troubled waters. So, while 'you might be the kid that no one cares about, you gotta keep screaming till they hear you out.'
I have always been intrigued by the superhero genre of movies and novels. While there might be many quotes from the film 'The Dark Knight' that achieved significant fame, there is one which I never feel entirely received the attention that it deserved, 'The Night is darkest just before the dawn.' Just like everything in this world, tough times also have a shelf life.
In this fast-moving highly-technological world, no one stops at one point to analyze what's bothering them. Everyone keeps moving, with all the frustrations and unfulfilled dreams bundled inside them, just because something doesn't work out.
Speaking specifically, what does an MBA offer you besides allowing you a membership amongst an elite and sophisticated group of talented individuals. The course structure isn't something that you can't find anywhere else, growth will eventually find you no matter where you are, or probably it's the high-paying packages that have been luring students ever since. But if that's the intention behind joining a prestigious B-school, you are probably on the wrong trajectory. After spending about close to a year in a top B-school, and while I might not be the most authentic of sources to believe, what an MBA wants to teach you is the ability to handle pressure and dire stress, while you are also trying to make a name for yourself.
While they may tell you that this a dog-eat-dog world out there, with everyone trying to fight and claw for that coveted top spot, an MBA teaches you the importance of teamwork and trustworthiness. While it's the high-paying packages or the most prominent brands that allure you, and while you might focus on the numbers' side of things, what you need to allow yourself to learn is the ability to stay grounded to remain humble. Always remember, your Tuesdays can never be a reflection of your Mondays, and what I mean by this is that simply put, you can't carry the bad or the good of yesterday onto tomorrow.
While some would be anxiously waiting to embark upon new adventures, and others might be feeling gloomy about the results not working in their favour. it is essential to realize that the most prominent brand out there is not your Goldman Sachs or your ITCs, the biggest brand in the room is always 'you.' Just believe in yourself and fight with all the grit in this world, overcome the most significant hurdles, and eventually conquer the tallest of the summits.