My Engineering Education...A Peek

"saare, saarinte makan padittam nirthiyo....." My father was obviously stunned at this question from his friend, who hasn't been lucky enough to experience the joys of being a engineering student in a government engineering college!!

I have entered my third year of my "professional" education career, and by approximate calculations, it's fair to say that i have spend more time in my room rather than in the classroom. Consider this, of the 12 hrs possible in the 2 days, since i have started S5,only 2 hrs were utilized!!It's been the same whole story repeating over and over again every sem..

I guess, for a "not so young not so old" college like mine, conducting classes everyday may be a bit of a problem, but still there is a limit to everything. All the major stockholders here are to blame here; teachers,the university,the college,my fellow engineers in the making,and ofcourse me(not in any order). Last year, all my core subjects failed to reach the 3rd module, and absolutely no subject was fully thought. The standard quote in this scenario is "it's engineering dude, what do you expect?" as if we are expected to master the entire discipline on our own!

Engineering studies for me has become a sort of sabbatical journey after the hectic 3 years through 10,11 and 12th.For the last 2 sems,after last minute studying, and mugging, i have been able to score okay marks in the university exams, but that is not engineering, the basic principles are to be grasped they are to be applied whenever required. Then only we will be useful. Of course the IT industry does not need TQ[Technical Quotient], and over the years engineering is considered as a means to huge salaries via campus placement,both parents and students[don't know about teachers] focus on the placement carnival rather than engineering itself. One does not need to attend all the lectures to get decent enough marks in the exams right???

My greatest anger will be reserved to some of my classmates,who studiously go to tuitions elsewhere, and look for every conceivable reason to (mass)cut the classes at our college. If we were to express any intention to attend the class, the cries for unity and spirit will be sounded, to which we eventually follow suit. Of course a cut here and there will do no one harm(i also desire for a break sometimes), but as in all other spheres self regulation is a touch too tough for us.

So amidst this chaos and from deep within the muddy waters, I appeal to everyone concerned, please be sincere towards yourself, and do your best..........................

Winning Together...The Bejoy Peter Way.

On the morning of May 5,2008; as I was sitting nervously in a room mentally preparing for a public speaking program at the YMCA, I first saw him ...Mr. Bejoy Peter, purposefully entering the room with confidence & elegance that he only possesses.

The second he started talking eloquently, I was impressed. He made all of us, nervous wannabes comfortable in his presence and made us believe that we can indeed be excellent speakers. From that moment on, for the next 2 weeks everyone of us, students of the 112th batch of BPPS [Bejoy Peter Public Speaking Course], had a magical journey towards the land of public speaking under him through various innovative sessions coupled with many fun-filled activities. Besides, he thought us many other valuable lessons in life which will surely help me in the future.

His teaching style was refreshing to say the least and the best part is that he made us extremely proud of our speeches and also more importantly made us enjoy our batch mates successes too. I wish our educational system incorporated that feeling to us in our school and colleges. But I guess in this highly competitive world where everyone is involved in a rat race [as Bejoy Sir used to say], adopting a motto of "Winning Together" is too much to ask for.

The BPPS course was more than just a public speaking training to me, Bejoy sir focused on many other aspects of our life, giving individual attention to each one of us, sort of preparing us to meet life successfully [again another quality that i hope our educational system will adopt].

Aside from all the inputs I received from his teachings, I got much inspiration from his life story too. Despite numerous failures and criticism, he followed his dreams and eventually God made him stumble into the career of a trainer, at which he became much successful. After 113 batches in an illustrious journey spanning just over a decade, he is at the peak of his career and I genuinely believe he can guide many more students in the right path.

If all these weren't enough, he has started a Yahoo group in which all alumni can still ask for guidance and advice from him. More than just a trainer, he will be a friend to me and though i may never choose public speaking as a career option, in whatever career i may end up with, his principles will always be used by me.

The Hindu Daily Metro Plus: The right words to success

A Busy Man Has Time For Everything...But He Has To Get His Priorities Right

Every time when i feel that my life is turning to a roller coaster ride with no time to spare and regularly faring poorly in my exams, everyone tells me[including my subconscious] that i am being lazy and a busy man can have time for everything.

I don't agree with that fully. I don't think I sleep all day long or spend a week doing nothing. It's just that I have a lot things to do like watching movies,playing,surfing the net,reading novels the list being endless. We all have only 24 hours to burn and we are busy with all our important things in our life.

One cannot possibly devote all his attention to all the activities he is interested in just because he has 24 hours per day,not just because he is lazy!

A person who spends the bulk of his time in any particular activity.he will eventually become a guru un that field,not because he has a knack for that,it's just because he loves it.

I will have to devote more time to studies just because I cannot feed myself without getting a job.
Studying should be my top priority now at present...