Reflections...

"We live
We learn
We love
In time
We give
We urn
We grow"

- Time, Billy Porter

That's all.

The EIG show

Late gratification

Sitting in Professor Price's lecture on emotional intelligence, I wondered how intertwined we, engineers, are with this aspect. When he specifically mentioned late gratification, there was a sense of relief as I said to myself, "I'm not the only one." Putting it in very simple terms, late gratification is less work less reward, more work more reward, usually later in time. This may seem at first a simple choice. However, when faced with multitudes of mental, physical, and emotional labor, our basic human instincts may guide us easily to the lesser work done.

This aspect of life was prevalent through even younger stages of my life. While going to the rigors of studying 2 years of economics and intense higher level math in IB, I saw how concepts of demand and supply and abstract algebra were amalgamated with late gratification. Even at my own personal level, studying intensely the 'right' way, rose my level to a stage where I gained confidence and came out better than the rest.

The key to all of this is the 'right way'. There will always be an easy way out, a detour of some sort. We hear and say it all the same, "... or you could just go to spark notes", or "here take my paper, just change the words", or " increase the period size and change the font, I gained half a page that way." I'm not saying I'm completely innocent of these ways or that they are life altering, but there is a reason why something is the way it is. There is a reason why my English teacher wanted us to read 14 books instead of the regular 11. There is a reason why my math teacher would give us long exacting projects during the summers. And there is a reason why iFoundry is not for credit hours or merits. The ultimate reason is to grow your mind, make you critical thinkers, better human being, and more knowledgeable. By detouring, this reason is abandoned and is left untouched. The problem is this reason, this reward is abstract, its vague as there is no concrete way to measure it. The real question is Can you get over yourself to choose the right way, for I know it is not easy.

A subtext here is what I mentioned before, late gratification is an aspect of life. Engineers are probably more inclined to choose the road less traveled upon, however all people in all fields go through this situation. The people who make a difference are those who opt for late gratification.

iLaunch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slaughter at the career fair.....

I walked in the the illini union with a grin streching across my face. I reached the check-in desk. Took the green sharpie and started to fill my name tag. I wrote my name in huge bold letters, bold enough to be seen from a distant planet, " AMAN KAPUR". Then I moved further down the tag and wrote my major, "General Engineering". So far so good. My grin still holding its pride and honor. And then came the dreaded and the fearful 'year of graduation'. I, for reasons that surpass my understanding, put "2013"; a freshman at the EXPO Career Fair.

The student volunteer behind the counter asked me in surprise, "You're a freshmen? You must have a lot of courage coming here." My grin went from being concave up to concave down. I replied in a unsure tone, "I guess so" , and moved along. Upon entering the hall, another volunteer, who, I guess, saw my tag, said "Aw, you're a freshmen, best of luck!". It seemed as if I was a chicken entering my own slaughter house.

I lifted my legs, my body, and my bravery (or bravado), and marched into the hall. The sight before could be best called as a peculiar example of 'Social Darwinism', survival of the fittest. 'Fittest' may not just be in age, technical skills, and formality, but moreso in the art of marketing oneself at expense of pushing others underwater. A troop of monkeys fighting over their food, their water, and their existence in the future.

For any first-timer, stepping into this battlefield can be intimidating, expecially when it's biased towards certain local 'warriors' than others who hail from distant lands; but I knew I had to try. I had already done my research and found what I wanted to fight for. I reached booth of the firm. I handed in my resume and started marketing my self. I said, "I'm Aman Kapur, a General Engineering Major. I'm a freshmen." And that was it. I soon as I said the words freshman, I saw this disappointing look in his eyes, and a bit of disinterest arose within him. I still carried on praising myself with the hope that I could change his opinion about freshmen. After about an exchange of words for 15-20 mins, we parted ways and I went on to another source.

I got out of there barely breathing and barely having any energy left in me. I crawled my way back to my dorm and rested, for I though tI had done a decent job of surviving in the war.
All in all, it was a learning experience. BE PREPARED, STAY STRONG, and SHOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

For those who let other people affect themselves more than they should.

For what?

It pinches, deep inside

pricks without permission

as her eyes gleam with determination

while I sit and stare.

Why can’t I be that?

Aren’t we both from the same tree?

I don’t want to be that,

for there is an ‘otherwise’.

I now feel on a pedestal, I aim for the heavens.

But, she still aims for earthly pleasures.

I, now, surpass him.

Why can’t she come up now?

For what is she fighting?

I feel safe and fair;

for what I fight is real.

But it still pinches;

It still pricks.

Is it actually real?

~ Aman Kapur

What is education about?

For too many years, people have thought education to be a means to an end. A process through which you acquire a skills set ready to take on the real world. A method wherein you learn what you need, to build a self-sustaining human being, merely in financial terms.
After being acquainted with some aspects of education management, I don't find much value in such high-held notions. Education is a about kindling life into someone. It is the essence through which we grow and evolve. It is transformation of a a boy/girl to a man/lady.

When in college, high school, or any other 'educational institute', one must develop a questioning mind and a thirst for knowledge. Books, readings, assignments, research papers, can get you only so far. For the real learning it is your mind and your drive that will take you another level in education. It is not just about getting straight As and a 4.0 GPA. It is about living a 'Complete life'. For many who think that staying all year a study room in a library and attaining the best possible honors is worthy of life, I employ you to see the difference between that boy and the man who developed not only in terms of knowledge but also a human being.

Bottom Line: Study hard, go out with friends on week-ends, join clubs and social activities, meet new people, LIVE THE COMPLETE LIFE.