The last 4 months have been a “great learning” phase in my life.
I think this is the first time I was facing “failures and obstacles” both in the personal and professional front [I mean at the same time].
Today I smile, not because the road ahead is easy but how much I have matured thanks to these experiences.
I came back to India on January 2nd, 2009 overly confident and ambitious. Our house was in a great mess. Due to mom’s sickness and hospitalization, the house had not been cleaned since ages. It was terrible. The cleaning of the house itself took me about 2-3 weeks. At the same time, there was my brother’s marriage preparations happening. I did not concentrate during this time on jobs.
I did get an interview call from Yahoo. I attended the interview at Yahoo B’lore on 19th Jan but did not get through the interview. This was the “first disappointment”. However, since I had prepared a lot for the interview, I was happy that I had given my best during that period of time and this preparation will actually help me in further interviews.
Meanwhile, there was this passion or thought in me to do something in the social sector. Now, I had no clue what I could do for social development. I actually thought social sector is all about “charity“.
I was searching on the internet for “platforms” which would introduce me to the social sector and answer my questions: “What a Software Engineer can do in the social sector?” “How can technology especially computer technology help in social development?“
I came across this institute called “Center for Social Initiative and Management” in Hyderabad which was offering a 4 month course in “Social Entrepreneurship and NGO Management”. It seemed like the “perfect” platform to get my questions answered.
We meet every Saturdays from 2:00pm to 6:00pm as part of the course. The course introduced me to lot of ideas about the social sector. Though I cannot say it has answered all my above questions, it has helped me broaden my vision regarding social initiatives.
At the same time, I also joined an NGO named “Freedom Foundation” which works in the field of HIV as a volunteer because I did want to get some first-hand experience working in an NGO
In the meantime, I was applying for jobs. I did attend a couple of interviews in Hyderabad. The “salaries” offered by them were so less, their attitude was not to my liking and so on.
I also had this thought in the meanwhile “What if I work full time in NGOs?” Why take up a “Software job” at all?
I spoke and visited a lot of NGOs. Most of my time went in calling people, roaming around, visiting people. But “nothing” materialized out of all this.
Then I realized, there is something wrong in my approach. I am not clear what I want to do and why I want to do it.
So I wrote down “What am I passionate about?” “What do I want to do in life?” “What kind of job do I want?”
Let us deal with these questions.
What am I passionate about?
~ Technology especially related to Computers. I love solving problems. I love writing code. I especially love “web development”. I used to always be excited about programming assignments I got during my M.S.
~ Sharing and learning. Like for eg: I love what they call “social media” blogging, twitter, orkut etc. I have made so many virtual & real friends from whom I have learnt immensely.
~ Social development – Let me borrow a term from Dr. Mohammad Yunus, “Creating a World Without Poverty”. [I don't know anything about this field, I am just an amateur but this is something that excites me]
~ Teaching - I do not like this term “teaching”. I would rather use “Interacting”. I was a teaching assistant during one semester for undergraduate Computer Science students teaching them “How to build a mini e-commerce website?” and I tell you, I was totally energetic and used to look forward to each session of how to make the classes “meaningful” to the students
I have many other interests like drawing, human relationships, history, people etc.
What do I want to do in life?
~ Not sure [Haha..this is the answer that's on top of my head]
~ This is a big question. I will come back to it later. It needs more introspection and clarity.
What kind of job do I want?
~ A job which could include my passion of technology+sharing+learning+teaching. You must be wondering why I did not add “Social development” in the previous equation. For technology to be meaningful, we need a deep understanding of the needs of the people to whom we are catering. And I as yet have no clue, what “real social development” means or how I can contribute.
Err…Wait you said you wanted to work in an NGO full time?
Yes, I am open to it. However, the past 4 months I have realized, simply thinking to work in an NGO is not enough. People will “take you for a ride” [I am not complaining or blaming anyone]. I was close to being hired by a couple of NGOs but realized it was not the place for me.
First you need a “vision“. Then you need to choose an NGO that aligns with your “vision“
I do not yet have a “vision“. I believe the vision will come over time. Till then, I am not working in an NGO just for the sake of it.
Ok, now that you have read the post [and hopefully did not get bored], let me know of any job opportunities that would involve my mentioned interests 
P.S This is just a “portion” of my thoughts. It is tough to encompass a lot of “experiences” in a blog post.
12 Comments
May 2, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Interesting post Saraswathi. You have a lot of thoughts there. I have found that confusion generally leads to clarity.
technology+learning+sharing+teaching – doesn’t the world of academia seem attractive to you? It certainly can meet all the 4 things you love.
May 3, 2009 at 4:54 am
wonderful post. You have stood by your word tha you would come back to India and contribute your share to the society. Thats really a very commendable thing. The combination of technology+learning+teaching+sharing is the main essence of why education had started at the first place. So you are serving the real purpose for which something called education had begun.
May be you have chosen the best path, while I struggle here to bring in social awareness into technological minds which is more difficult than bringing technology into socially conscious people (your path)
I would like the term ‘ teaching’ being used in place of ‘learning’ because teaching gives you responsibility, which would ensure that you learn while you teach. That is only my personal opinion
May 3, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Hi,
Social impact in India is tough – being outside of the System. Most of the non profit’s don’t work in India for a reason. In my view the one and only way to make a real impact in India, is by using the System. It will be tough, but that is the best chance that you have got. Everything else is diversification of effort. So first identify the “System” that you may fit in, then apply your equation – “technology+sharing+learning+teaching”.
What is the “System”: Legislature, Judiciary, Executive – any one.
I am saying this because, I have gone through the same thought process that you are going through – I have chosen one – and concluded that using the channels already created is the best way to produce a durable result. I hope that your spirit stays strong.
May 3, 2009 at 2:34 pm
What is the “System”: Legislature, Judiciary, Executive, Media – any one.
May 6, 2009 at 7:19 pm
@Sukumar:
Thanks a lot.
Confusion motivated me to write down “What I really want in life?” and as you said has helped me get lot of clarity.
When you say academia – does it refer to taking up the teaching profession? or doing PhD?
May 6, 2009 at 7:23 pm
@Hariram:
Thanks a lot. After you mentioned, it does seem like the essence of education.
Education should be a fun and enriching experience for a child which will make him realize this essence. Sadly I see the education system is not upto the mark in inculcating this essence.
I love your perspective on “Teaching”. Probably we can use the term “facilitator”. I believe in what Socrates had said many years back. You cannot “teach” someone, you can only help them discover their own knowledge.
Whatever path we take, I want my vision of 2050 to be true and I have to work towards it.
May 6, 2009 at 7:25 pm
@unknown:
Very interesting angle to the whole discussion. Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts.
I did not get the “complete” meaning of your statements. However, I understand the outline that to “change” a system we have to be “part” of that system. Is that what you meant?
May 9, 2009 at 6:18 pm
System ??? Are we really out of any system.? We are part of the Larger System called India (forgetting the World for a while). Every field you choose is really a part of this larger system. When you contribute to the system you are currently in, eventually would contribute to the larger System. But the eventual effect on the larger system because of your contribution to the smaller system can’t be assured. If we, as our individual responsibility make sure that the your contribution is accounted for, then the larger system will be benefitted. Though I may be considering a hypothetical and ideal condition, but may be the vision 2050 may ensure this ideal environment
May 11, 2009 at 11:54 am
Interesting post, this is a must read for all those who dream of doing something in social sector.
But whatever happens, it’s for our good. Don’t worry on lost opportunities.
May 15, 2009 at 6:11 pm
@Hariram:
I agree with you when you say we are always part of the “larger system” no matter what work we do. Infact I would say contributing to any “area” is equally important. Working in social sector does not mean, you give up your profession and go do social service. You can still carry on your profession and find ways of how the field of your work can impact the “society” in a good way on the whole. That is sufficient.
May 15, 2009 at 6:12 pm
@just08in:
Thanks for your kind words. Yes, every lost opportunity teaches you a lot of things. And I have learnt immensely from these failures.
June 1, 2009 at 11:53 am
Your wish list is wonderful. It will bring peace and prosperity to the earth. I am sure your dream is realizable in that timeframe or sooner. That’s a good foundation for the future evolution of real human fulfillment. Material and peace and prosperity provides the pre-conditions for the flowering of human culture, emotions and enlightenment. For this, humanity needs to give up the urge for social conformity and imitation, to become real, thinking, creative individuals discovering their own real inner potential rather than comfortable conforming members of the social collective. That means giving up selfishness, self-assertion, egoism, superstition, arrogant sense of superiority, and another long list of psychological deformities. Stated positively, it is to acquire human and spiritual values which are universal and eternal such as truthfulness, goodwill, self-giving, humility. Too much to hope for by 2050? For humanity as a whole perhaps, but perhaps at least for an aspiring idealistic minority.