Senthil’s Page
This is not just another bloody WordPress.com weblog!! What were you thinking eh?Archive for Fun
Thanks for all the love!
This year’s birthday is the best ever I’ve had in a long time now! And it wouldn’t have been possible if not for a lot of people who really care for me!
Sharan, Nandini, Nimisha, Dumbo and Nick came home at 9AM while I was still sleeping deeply. I heard someone knock frantically at my door. When I opened the door, I was so surprised when all I could hear was these nuts shouting ‘Happy Birthday!’. It took me a while for me to realize who all were there. Sharan had to leave in a while for he had office. After a while Shalini, Natasha and Sumit joined us as well.
We cut cakes, opened presents and ordered food home. It was great fun in all. I must really thank all you people for being there at my place on that day and for all their love. I really missed Preethi and Sharan. It would have been great if only these both could have been there as well. 
Thanks!
Love
Sen
Working With Teams
Like I always keep telling people who ask me about one of the biggest challenges of pursuing an MBA program, “There’s no bigger challenge than working in groups” Now I don’t want to be sounding like its a big pain to be working with people. But at the same time, I don’t want to paint a rosy picture. I’ve had my own share of fun & problems, but at times the scales might tilt slightly towards the problems side.
In almost all MBA programs, you are given plenty of assignments that require you to work in a group. And most of the times, you don’t get to choose with whom you would want to work with. Professors generally choose whom you work with which gives you an equal chance to work with the best and the worst of the lot. The following is my list of the best and worst things to happen while working with teams -
The Good
- During the initial days of your program, its a great way to know new people and make some really good friends
- You get to learn how to work with different people, being patient and being a team worker
- You start appreciating the work others bring to the table
- Its a great feeling when your team excels and receives appreciation from faculty members
- A chance to learn things that you previously didn’t know.
The Bad
- Some people are inherently lazy and don’t turn up for work
- Few of them don’t work on weekends, either don’t respond to phone calls or switch off mobile phones
- Working with bossy people can only makes things worse when you want to contribute your ideas but don’t get a chance to be heard.
- You might be put in a team where your worst enemy is a member! Lol
- If you are the lazy person in the team, fingers would be pointing in your direction.
So can you think of any?
Love
Sen
Getaway to Mysore
Nandini’s dad happens to be Karnataka’a High Court Judge and customarily gets passes for all major events the Karnataka Government organizes. So this Dasara (An extravagant festival celebration organized by the Government in Mysore District, Karnataka, India. For more information read here) her dad got gold passes for the event and since they had other plans, Nandini gave it to Sharan and me to go watch the event.
After enough discussion, we decided to reach Mysore on Sharan’s Honda Unicorn since it was only 140 kilometers away from Bangalore. We left on Wed, 8 Oct 2008, at around 6pm and stopped at Barista which is located on the highway. Since the last time I saw the highway has changed a lot. The highway now houses Cafe Coffee Days, Barista, McDonalds, tens of Dhabas and plenty other places for one to stop and relax for a while.
We finally reached Mysore at 9.30 PM that night and since we had our hotel rooms confirmed in advance, thanks to Sharan, all we had to do was get in and freshen up and leave to have dinner. The security guard in the restaurant told us about RRR, one of Mysore’s famous place to have Biryani. We did find the food amazing after our dinner.
The next morning, we left to the Mysore Palace where the procession was scheduled to begin at 12.30PM. We reached the place at 11.30 and found a mile long queue. We wondered if we would even get a place to sit. Suddenly we felt the Gold Passes we were holding wasn’t all that precious. There were many others with similar looking passes. Laugh out Loud. After security checks, when we went in, one cannot ignore the spectacular Mysore Palace in the background. Even though I’ve been there a couple of times earlier, each time you experience a whole new feeling. We sat in the seats allocated to us and watched the entire procession. It was a colourful and a splendid performance for people all over the state.
That evening we went to the closing ceremony for Mysore Dasara 2008. It was organized in a place called Banni Mantap. I loved the parade and the fireworks in the end, not to mention the motorcycle stunt performances. Since cameras weren’t allowed inside, we couldn’t take pictures.
We left the next morning early at 6 AM stopping once to have breakfast in a highway restaurant. I was worried I would fall sick in all the bike rides we were doing in cold mornings, scotching hot afternoons and dry evenings. But luck was on my side. I am fit enough to be writing this post two days later.
Few pictures of the Procession (Click to Enlarge)
Love
Sen
Bengalooru to Ohio
For those who don’t know me that much, and those who were confused what my previous blog was all about, I am one among those millions called ‘An MBA Grad’. I have felt proud and pissed at the same time about my decision to pursue MBA program.
Almost 18 months ago, I had just completed my BBM program, from one of the world’s leading university. No, not Harvard or Stanford. I was talking about Bangalore University! (Now why did you make that face? Eh?) For three years, all I did was read books and magazines, watch movies in PVR, lunch in restaurants and spend one week each semester to diligently go through Neeraj Semester Scanner (this book deserves a Booker Prize) that neatly give you everything ever needed to clear the tough to crack Bangalore University Exam. While I loved those three years for all the friends I made and fun I had, I passed out of the program dumber than I got in. To a large extent, I think we have options to work hard. But we don’t take it. The environment doesn’t support geniuses! (Lol, I was talking about me!)
After my BBM, I could choose between working or continue splurging my dad’s money on a MBA program. I had cleared my BBM with good scores (Thanks to Neeraj Scanner again!) and was full of confidence. My dad largely made my decision when it comes to this MBA program. He asked me to continue studying. And that’s what i did and still doing and would continue doing for the next three months.
I’ve learnt and unlearnt a lot of things since the time I joined Ohio University Christ College AME. Coming from Bangalore University background to this place was nightmarish. To start with, there is no Neeraj Scanner. Everything is so organized here. To just survive, you need to have 75% marks and 90% attendance. These are unheard of figures in the wonderland of Bangalore Univ.
I learnt how to be patient and dynamic at the same time, how to (and how not to) work with teams, value of being punctual (I mean you can loose grades and attendance if you don’t be punctual), participating in class discussions (10 Marks!) and what it takes to reach great heights (Its atleast 4 floors upwards). But I think the most important thing an MBA program in our institution does to you is to REFINE you.
And its this refinement, I feel, that is priceless. Now I am more confident than ever to work for an organization, I make make better presentations and write good reports. I understand businesses better. I am more efficient in managing time and being professional. As we step off to work for corporations in some time, I cannot but thank all that I’ve taken from this institution, while giving back so little in return.
Thanks!
Love
Sen
