【轻阅读，看世界】What are the bitter truths of going to the US to pursue an MS, as an Indian?

24 December 2018

Ann Arbor, Michigan

I was about to graduate in 4 months from my masters program and that evening I just sat blank staring outside my sparsely furnished bedroom window. All I could see was sheets of snow piled outside on the porch and a pale, defeated reflection of mine from that same window pane.

It was the winter break and the entire town had come to a grinding halt owing to the holiday season. Most of my friends were away visiting their families or friends and my other set of friends and family, spread across the globe, were inaccessible at that point of time (courtesy: time zone difference).

I felt absolutely lonely and helpless. No matter how much effort I was putting in, nothing seemed to be moving forward. I was balancing academics, chores, errands, paper work, cooking, recruitment, and a myriad other things and nothing seemed to be coming to together. That evening, I just wanted to shut my brain but I just felt like a sore loser, like a person going around in circles over a hundred times!

There are very few moments in your life where you can decide whether you want to sit and wallow in self pity or get up and dust yourself up and go fight tooth and nail for what you think you deserve.

I knew I didn’t want to sit there and cry over “the cruel hand fate had dealt me with”. I snapped out of my self pity mode, grabbed a fresh sheet of paper and listed out my next 10-days, 1 month, and 3-months goals. I put pointers against each of them, and I finally printed a few pictures for my vision board, something peppy and to keep me going.

Needless to say, the next 4 months of my life were the hardest. From focussing on what was not going right I started focussing on what can be done to make it right. I toiled day and night, but I absolutely loved every bit of it.

Well fast forward four months: I graduated and aced the recruitment scenario, landing my dream role, mentored a bunch of bright students, and had made some amazing connections.

Bitter truths of life in the US?

You are the master of your own destiny here. Stop using the victim card: blaming the system, visa process, mid-west/east coast winters, and what not! Take ownership, be sincere, show up, and don’t expect any shortcuts here. There will always be hurdles but this is one of the fairest countries in the world which rewards merit and hard work. The sooner you swallow this bitter, fat, red pill, the sooner you will embrace your life here and make the best of it.