A Farewell Wish

Preface:
Well this time, no kidding!
I was at a Chinese restaurant for lunch at noon today. I am not entirely sure what my fortune cookie message meant, but it read: "The secret to keeping good friends is no secret to you"..... My conclusion: The meal is awesome, I don't really know the secret, I am blessed with very kind friends that let me believe that I do, and that the fortune cookie people are in cahoots with the coincidence gods. How else could anyone have guessed what's been on my mind?
__________________________________________________________________

Dear Sobha and Sahadev,

Though it was by chance that we met, I am glad we chose to be friends. I'll admit, it was difficult to not seek friendship with folks like you and I am thankful that our relationship has extended into realms beyond it's first circumstance.
Knowing you two has been a tremendous gift to me. I got re-introduced to facets of my life that I knew existed but never thought would be so joyful to explore, realize and share. Whether it is in a crowd or in select company, you are such a pleasure or should I say, 'calming influence' to be around. In Apoorva and Pooja's dictionary the synonyms for that read more like 'Fun, Funny, playful, kind, soft-spoken, good cook' and so on. In Mohan's, NEOTA and GNO. Singular though it is, you each have a way about yourselves that is utterly disarming yet without any force of word or deed. In your simplicity of thought and action and your deep desire to make a positive difference in the ways of the world, you have unknowingly inspired me to be a Better Person. I knew I was good, but better sounds better than good, doesn't it? Just kidding! No, it was not a 5-day crash course in spirituality or go-Green initiatives offered at Parker Lake Estates, but a journey in quiet understanding, constant learning and sincere admiration.

Needless to say, we'll miss you terribly, Mohan, Apoorva, Pooja and I .......

A farewell wish is necessary to nudge you to look forward to the moments of our meeting again, so here it goes....
My heart says that I should take a chance and literally follow you to your destination but my commonsense that most often comes to my rescue demands that I should let it prevail and stay back to simply remind friends and well-wishers that Singapore is well-connected by air and that you are fantastic hosts who are sure to top off a welcome meal with at least one scoop of ice-cream!
I want to hold on to your friendship, which I will in spirit, but let you leave because I know this new place that you are eager to call home awaits you, so you can transform it with your presence into one that is as sweet as the one you are leaving behind.

I pray that God keep you both just the way you are, happy, compassionate, kind, simple and true to your thoughts and values.

I don't think I want to say Good-bye because I have a feeling we are going to meet again soon :-)

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NEOTA - Northeast Ohio Telugu Association
GNO - Guys Night Out
Parker Lake - Sobha and Sahadev lived in that community

On Singing for Joy!

Annamacharya Aradhana was started 3 years ago by a small yet passionate group of music lovers among the Telugu community in the Cleveland area to celebrate the life and works of the great poet, composer Tallapaka Annamacharya. The event has achieved great success in bringing together teachers, students and music enthusiasts alike, to extol the beauty and devotion in the compositions through music and dance performances.

An ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati Annamacharya (also known as Annamayya) successfully composed more than 32,000 Sankirtanas in a style that is impossible to replicate! Only 14,000 of these Sankirtanas are available at present. He was credited to have come up with Pallavi and Charanam division of a song. Annamayya considered his compositions as floral offerings to God. In the Saptagiri Sankirtanas, he praises Venkateswara, the Saptagiri vasa or the Lord that resides within the 7 hills, in verses that describe his love for Venkata Chalapathi, praise for his ishtadaivam’s Mahima leading to a total surrender or Saranaagathi at the divine lord’s feet. "Rasanam Lakshanam Bhajanam" , meaning the act by which we feel closer to either our true self (atman), or to God (Ishvara) couldn’t be expressed more eloquently than in the unique style of spoken feeling that perfectly blends love, admiration, devotion and ultimate union with the paramatma!


by Sravanthi Vallampati

It's funny how my friends think I can sing....
Preface: My exercise in understanding and singing Annamayya's divine compositions.

It's funny how my friends think I can sing
funnier even, they compliment and say 'wow'!
Not my teachers, mind you! They only lament,
often stopping shy of shedding a painful tear,
or think me a child and chide in casual company;
The stern stare, furrowing frown and deep sigh
only too legit, at my rendition poor, notes off-key!


As time passes by and my day warrants hours 4 more,
I often wonder why I long to go back to sing that song
of delight with utter glee, (notes off-key notwithstanding),
to lift myself up, above my own hesitant expectation;


It's not so much the song but the choir I love, I recall now,
the enmeshed feelings of fun, food and some learning,
(of course!) as music fills the air and I learn a thing or two
from my funny friends in the choir that think I can sing.
And yes, to those enduring souls that try to instil in me,
some love for that song of yesterday, I am thankful to you
for making me wish I could sing again!


It's funny how my friends think I can sing
funnier even, they compliment and say 'wow',
if ever you wondered why I love them so,
stop right there, you now know!

On Dancing for Joy!

by Sravanthi Vallampati

It's time to Dance, her Heart commands,
her Soul as though awakening to action
takes on the world with flying feet,
lifting it up with spirit free, Joy unconfined;
Looking to Heaven with ravished eyes,
one with the azure sky, she danced along....

Decked like a bride, garb and ornament,
belts of gold tightened at waist,
her aides instruments rare, song most mellifluous;
Dancing prayer, folklore and romance
with ease unmatched and grace sole,
Lost in her Soul's Joy, she danced along....

What thoughts come to mind as we hurriedly make our way into an auditorium to witness a performance of someone who believes that 'Dance is the hidden language of the soul' is anyone's guess. The stage, exquisitely decorated with an idol of the Lord of dance,' Nataraja' himself on one side and a live orchestra on the other, was still, but for the flickering of a lamp at the altar. The rustle of footsteps, the testing of the instruments and lighting and backstage preparation came to a halt as a prayer invoking the blessings of the Gods and the Guru ushered the commencement of the proceedings. It was an occasion to celebrate and bring into focus the unique talent, energy and multi-faceted personality of Mahima Venkatesh through her Bharatanatya Arangetram.

Bharatanatyam, an age-old and cherished dance form of India is taught and learned with great veneration and pride to this day. The ‘Narthaki’ (dancer) of this highly cultivated dance form brings to life the scintillating dynamic between 'Lasya', the graceful feminine lines and movements, and 'Tandava', the energetic masculine action, to ultimately conceptualize the essence in an engagement of cosmic proportions. The word 'Bharat' is made up of three Sanskrit terms: 'Bhaav' - emotion, 'Raag' - music, and 'Taal' - rhythm. 'Natyam' means drama. The two words together describe this divine dance form where drama is heightened by over-powering emotion expressed in words set to rhythm-aware music. Bharatanatyam, it is said, is the embodiment of music in visual form, a ceremony in itself, and an act of devotion and celebration. The dancer that dreams of pursuing this art is required to work towards perfecting the ten essentials namely Javaha (Agility), Sthirathvam (Steadiness), Rekha (graceful lines), Bhramari(balance in pirouettes), Drishti (glance), Shramaha (hard work), Medha (intelligence), Shraddha(devotion), Vacho (good speech), and Geetam (singing ability).

Cheered on by teachers, family and friends, Mahima, a sophomore at Strongsville High School took center stage to open the evening with 'Pushpaanjali', a floral offering to Lord Shiva (Nataraja) followed by a prayer to the remover of obstacles, Lord Ganesha. Her handling of the delicate balance between perfection and beauty right from the start set a tone of high expectation for the evening. Mahima’s elaborate gestures, rhythmic movements, emotional and sentimental states of mind complemented by impeccably appointed music, costumes and accessories, took the audience through a journey of the 'Navarasas'. From extolling the beauty of the presiding deity of the temple of Madhura Meenakshi to folklore popular for its pure and simple emotional content, through depictions of childhood exploits of Lord Krishna, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the enraged outpourings of a disgruntled lover, leading towards a technically superior performance laced with graceful agility.

A performance par excellence such as this one is the result of genuine interest, immense hard work, unflinching dedication, tremendous encouragement and keen instruction. Mahima is a disciple Smt. Sujatha Srinivasan of Shree Kala Mandir under whose tutelage, she has given many a solo performance and participated in dance dramas like ‘Shadripu’, ‘Minstrels of God’ and ‘Andal’. Throughout her presence on stage, her deep love of dance and the desire to share her joy of learning and perfecting the art was evident as her body swayed to charming melodies rendered perfectly by Smt. Pusthakam Ramaa suitably accompanied by Sri. K.S. Jayaram on Flute, Sri. Janardhana Rao on Mrudangam, Sri. Prasanna Kumar on Kanjira, Rhythm pad & Morsing and Smt. Sujatha Srinivasan on nattuvangam.

The Chief Guest for the evening Dr. Kamala Reddy of Pittsburg, PA, a senior most student of Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam praised the unbridled enthusiasm and energy of youth today who are unafraid to explore their inner selves and display the courage to make their dreams a reality. Smt. Nirmala Balasubramanian, the Guest of Honor and Mahima’s preschool teacher at Bama Montessori was overjoyed as she reminisced years gone by and said that it is no surprise students like Mahima with their positive attitude and leadership qualities, have come this far and was certain that many more years of success and achievement lay in the future. An all Honors student, active Girl scout, Science enthusiast, Flautist, young journalist and a budding leader, Mahima is sure to make a name for herself not only in the dance circuit but also in her other areas of interest.

For the rest of us out there, young dancers like Mahima are but an inspiration to take a deep breath, tie our hair back and dance for joy or just lose ourselves in a performance like the one I had the good fortune of witnessing and look forward to another savory experience! My sincere admiration goes out to Mahima’s parents Sowmya and Venkatesh and her little sister Mahati without whose commitment, dedication and encouragement celebrations like this one in the life of a young artist would be, but impossible.

On Hope

by Sravanthi Vallampati



Preface:
An artist’s depiction of his desperate state of body and mind as he struggles to find his muse.

A unique sort of pleading monologue, an appeal to the Gods of the creative process to preside over with a smile, so thoughts that demand to be distilled can journey into this world that seems to hold promise to all but him!Though his thoughts bleed with despair, Hope springs eternal in his heart....



My desolate thoughts drift aimlessly into the midnight calm,
I despair, perched on a wall, untold woes my soul’s endur’d;
Bleak promise of bread, tattered garb, soul rife with indigence,
no industry doth suit my desires, my guised maiden eludes still;

To the tide of time stands, my frail body an arduous testimony,
Many have come and gone, their shining masterpieces sporting;
Convict of my own affliction, unyielding conviction, I, my saboteur,
aching for thy je ne sais quoi to carve my oeuvre, ardor ignite!

I feed on dreams of hope through the wakeful night, dreams
that succor me tread the tempestuous raillery of existence,
for, tomorrow may be the morn that brings on its swift wings,
my glimmer of heavenly Hope – my calling, my muse!

Descend on me like the twilight I see from this lowly gutter;
By design or happenstance, Descend, so I may rise to meet thee!
Let me rejoice in your attendance or be consumed by acute privation
should destiny keep you from awarding me sweet deliverance.

Let me not ever awake, lie an appalling waste in my eternal dream,
But take away not mine beloved treasure from me, I implore you!
For my love of life, Hope is all I have,
for triumph or tragedy, Hope is all I will.

Here's to my friends...

Preface:
A remark as I think about all those people that I have met in my lifetime and where they are today in relation to where I stand......
“If we are friends, I believe that our prayers, thoughts and actions are just as steady and loyal as time passes, anchored in the knowledge that our relationship will endure the test of time.
How we look at and feel about things present or past, is only a matter of perspective and my hope is that we manage our lives and appreciate actions of those that are dear to us with much care and understanding."
I consider myself blessed to be part of this bouquet of sweet friendship where each flower with its unique hue, fragrance, form and character fills the air with a certain magic that is impossible to resist.

By Sravanthi Vallampati

Many years from now, when all is said and done,
I know I'll feel thankful and blessed once again,
for friends that stayed alongside my shoulder,
in thick and in thin of my life as I grew older.

On your butterfly wings, I've seen many a rainbow,
my imagination soaring, my hopes ultimately aglow,
through blustery cold winds and super sunshiny days,
in my mind’s eye, so vividly, you were there always.

You have taught me a lesson or two, in Love so true,
leaving me with a kinder heart with much to imbue,
to give without hesitation, care without expectation,
to rise above myself, to be sincere in my appreciation.

You let me be me, listening to all I had to say, stories
from the past, hopes for the future, lingering mysteries,
funny anecdotes, friendly banter, intolerant idealism! Me
wonders what I would make of me if it were not for thee!

I reckon, my friends, I'll take another sweet serving of you,
should I re-enter life's fare and have cherished friends few,
to repay in kind, show you I care and acknowledge with zeal,
until then "I shall grapple you to my soul with hoops of steel"

On Being Mom to Little Angels

May 2009

Preface:
I know that I talk to my little ones a lot and stay super busy all day giving lessons on how to do things, from brushing their teeth in the morning to buttoning up their pajamas at bedtime, not to mention the unending list of ‘Don’t’s’, but putting my most meaningful thoughts down in a non-instructional manner to simply say ‘I love you’ in terms that they can understand has proven not to be easy. The emotion is so basic yet it's expression and affect profound beyond imagination.
Here’s a little something dedicated to my little angels to verify that I have tried, in words they can understand...
My dearest,

Thank you for the wonderful Mother's day gift.
Yesterday was an absolutely happy day when I felt that being 'mom' is the best thing in the whole wide world. I could not have asked for more! I enjoyed hearing 'mom' in every one of your sentences through the afternoon, and the picture you have of me as a caring, loving and forgiving person is a gift that I will cherish for as long as I live. I thank God each day for blessing me with a beautiful child like you! I have heard you tell me things about myself that made me laugh and feel silly, and I am glad that my turn has finally come to tell you what you mean to me.

Your smiles, giggles, hugs, tugs, kisses even your occasional tantrums, squeals and spills, make me feel special as I enjoy my chance to be a kid once again. I don’t remember much from when I was a little girl except that my mom and dad told me often how much they loved me, and that a Big Smile was enough to make me and everyone around me happy. A lot of what they said comes back to me each time I look into your eyes or talk to you, and I must say that everything seems more beautiful when you are around. :)

I am an adult today and you know me only as mom that looks and acts like she knows everything there is to know, but let me tell you a little secret......Do you know that you have been my teacher many times? Just when I thought that I had learned a lot and was smart enough to take care of myself, you came along. What a marvelous day that was! My life had changed forever and now I cannot imagine how it would be without you. From that day forward, loving, laughing, caring and sharing have each acquired a new meaning. I feel like I’ve just begun my journey into the world of toys and gadgets, tiny friends, tender feelings, creative art and imagination unlimited. I am loving the ride into this magical world with you by my side and hoping that it would never end! In your own gentle and forgiving ways you have taught me to be kind and strong at the same time, to smile and forgive more, be happy at all times and for small pleasures, mind my manners, love people for who they are, give praise for little stuff, be spontaneous, use my imagination and improvise, ask questions (endlessly!) and of course, that it is more fun to look up to the stars than it is to gaze at muddy shoes. . See what I mean? Thank you!

Many thoughts come to my mind when I think of you. You know how you break into a grin when you see your favorite flavor of Popsicle or that yummy piece of colorful candy? It’s just like that for me. Every time I think of or look at you, a certain gladness take me over and I feel like I am in that candy store. When it comes to you, I have many favorites. My top choices would have to be your heart-warming smile (ear-to-ear grin, more like), wide-eyed curiosity and trust in people and their kindness, ‘it’s OK’ when I snap, our funny stories about school and kids on the bus, cuddle-time jokes, kicking ball, solving puzzles, writing Madlibs, playing in the sprinklers, snowball fights, loading up Ice-cream sundaes, making our own rules just so we can break them and best of all your ‘Big hug’ with little arms that barely go around me in full circle etc. etc. The list seems endless.... I enjoy every little thing I do with you and I am busy making a memory book in my head and heart that is getting bigger and more priceless by the day. It's pages are filled with color, sounds and shapes, and reading from it is one of my favorite hobbies. As I flip through the pages of my memory book, it is easy to see why I love you the way I do and that I have not done everything perfectly. What I also know is that I have tried to be a mom and a friend to you and that I will keep trying until I get it right! I promise to be more patient and playful, shop and shout less, and do more with you than just cook and clean and be mad at homework time. Oh! yes, how can I forget the demands for more sleepovers and gadgets? Like I said, I am learning with you and sometimes don’t have all the answers you need. Even if I do, it is possible that you may not like some of them and that’s OK too. I don’t either :-). What say you and I find some together?

Last but not least, here's the most important thing I want you to know. I want you to know that I am very very proud of you for who you are! As you grow up, I hope that you say "I can" to yourself many times before you let someone tell you otherwise, and believe that you Can make all your dreams come true.  Just believe!I pray that you ‘Be yourself’ and let the kind and loving person within you shine to help keep that priceless smile upon your lips at all times no matter what!

Soon, you will grow up into a beautiful young girl. I can’t imagine what I will do when you leave home, but for now, all I know is that I must live in this moment and enjoy my days with you. By the time I understand you completely and share you with all the stories that I want to share, your toys will have lost their squeak and you may already have grown up and left home, but I do hope that you comeback from time to time to my cooking, hugs and little nothings knowing that I will always love you and that the doors to my heart and home are always open for you. All you need do is turn around and look.
For whatever the future may hold, I wish you health, happiness and success. God bless you!
Love,
Mom

Share and Inspire

by Sravanthi Vallampati

It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and just as the town was recovering from the holiday festivities, a unique sort of event took center stage at the Solon Community Church. It was neither religious nor cultural, but had a somewhat similar feel to it where time-tested traits like courage, dedication, hard work, passion and service with particular emphasis on originality and the will to achieve, painted a ‘Sure as Rain’ picture of success.

As like-minded parents and kids thronged to settle themselves in, I couldn’t help but realize that my usual mental weariness associated with frigid winter afternoons was fading away quickly as the expanse of the hall room started to come alive with warm smiles, hearty greetings and cheerful voices. It was like Thanksgiving all over again. And surprisingly, it did not seem as cold and dark anymore. The event was due to begin in less than ten minutes, so I met with a few friends that I had not seen in sometime, hurriedly glanced at the profiles of the featured youngsters, grabbed a cup of coffee, ushered the kids to their designated stations and sat down, rather at the edge of my chair, excited at the prospect of listening to what a couple of my favorite young ladies who I had known since their Kindergarten years had to say in public about their experiences in high school, what it took for them to be the Valedictorians of their respective schools and make headway into reputed colleges in pursuit of excellence. Little did I know that I was in for a thrilling surprise in not one, not two but six speakers and a set of five accomplished panelists that were invited to aid as career advisors. It suddenly dawned on me that I was in esteemed company. The microphones turned on, the lights dimmed, snack-bar closed and we were ready for action.

The Master of Ceremonies Dr. Gopal Yadavalli explained to the audience the intent behind ‘Share and Inspire’ - the result of a collective desire of a community that believes in Education as being key to success while recognizing the talent that is latent in our kids today, talent that seeks inspiration from trailblazers like our speakers to make it through the daunting yet navigable wilderness of high school and beyond. ‘Share and Inspire’ at the outset also sought to educate and encourage the parent community to break away from their narrow focus and widen their horizons in learning about the rich variety of rewarding professions that the new globalized market of today offers so they can better complement the efforts of their children in preparing for their future endeavors.

The first 3 speakers were freshmen at universities. Keerthana, Mathura and Sruti are meritorious graduates from their high schools and were all featured in the Plain Dealer’s list of Head of Class/most promising youngsters of 2008. As Keerthana’s PowerPoint presentation lit up the AV screen, I couldn’t help but regret forgetting a pad and a pencil to take notes for this write-up. Relying on the speed of today’s internet, the support of my communication-savvy sponsors and my own memory to jot down the various impressions, I took a deep breath, got over my lack of preparedness and braced myself up for what promised to be a fun afternoon.
Keerthana Bolisetty a National Merit finalist in her first year of the 7-year direct Medical Program at Ohio State presented all aspects of the journey to success in an admirably organized fashion, categorizing academics, Extra-curriculars and Service and Volunteerism as cornerstones to well-roundedness in the high school years. “Academics is not just grades” she said, recommending the incorporation of a healthy dose of extra-curricular activities that comes from following one’s interests like playing sports, taking memberships in clubs etc. culminating in opportunities for Leadership and wider interaction with a variety of people and interests . Keerthana made a special mention of how summer work (Internships, Research projects) and service and volunteering projects can augment the list of achievements while providing exposure to the real world. Her account of the college application process, essays and narrowing the focus to visiting to 5-7 colleges was precise and practical.

With an opening tribute to her inspiration, Richard P. Feynman, Mathura Jaya Sridharan, a National Merit Scholar, Valedictorian, accomplished singer and dancer, currently a freshman at MIT, entranced the audience with her version of the Friedmann equation where she theorized that “stress must be positive and increasing in order to create a ratio that is greater than one thus ensuring positive results” and went on to further the theory with “if stress cannot be assessed, then one can ascertain that the number of activities per unit time must be greater than the speed of light (speed at which your mind must think) squared, divided by the amount of stress that diminishes efficiency”. How very ‘Original’ and entertaining! By the end of her elucidation, the audience, me included, was reeling with partial understanding coupled with amusement and I was frantically overworking my memory to see if I could recall anything about Feynman other than the 2 facts that I remember from my school days. One, that he was a Nobel Prize winning physicist and the other, that he was a fellow Taurean, vicariously giving me the distinguished pleasure of being in the same league as him which of course meant more than the Nobel Prize itself back then. Well, nothing else came to mind and I quickly put my listening ears on again. From deciphering equations for modeling a homogeneous, isotropic universe, Mathura brought us back, in the batting of an eyelid, to the real world with her stress on the importance of SATs. It is the “familiarity with the problems that counts” she insisted, stating ‘Practice’ as fundamental to acing the much talked about tests! Picking right up from where Keerthana left off on the matter of extra-curricular activities, she highlighted that one should not feel the need to take up and list a string of activities just because they make a resume` look good, instead, emphasize on the few that tell a tale of genuine interest and continuing passion. An accomplished Carnatic vocalist and a Bharatanatyam dancer herself, Mathura said that she did not think to look beyond her two interests to project herself as a candidate fit to be admitted into a top university. Whether it be for essay and resume` writing or for enjoying oneself, Mathura’s advice was to be ‘Original’ – be and say who ‘You’ are!

Our last speaker in the freshmen advising seniors’ category was Avon High’s Valedictorian, Sruti Ramadugu, who chose to be elegantly up-front about the challenges that lay ahead with a ‘School = Work’ slogan! Currently attending New York University, it was evident from her profile that as the Captain of her school’s Tennis team and Lt. Governor of the Junior Statesmen of America it was not like she did not enjoy participating in activities other than academics, but her ‘School should be your primary job’ sent a clear and concluding message to all present and drew attention back to the basics. At this point, I could not help but notice the parents’ “See, I said so!” reaction manifesting in a squinted gaze as I craned my neck almost involuntarily to find my daughter who conveniently seemed to have found a seat far away from where I was. Sruti, like her peers, went on to reiterate the importance of the SATs but cautioned against underestimating the PSATs. Her recommendation also included attempting the ACTs and SATs early on so as to be able to take advantage of opportunities to improve. Advanced Placement (AP) credits that can be achieved during the high school years can give you a “leg up in college, so take as many as you can” she encouraged the eager beavers cheerfully. Just as I was thinking of extra-curriculars came a perfectly singular mention of “If you can’t t find something that interests you … Start Something New!”. The casual delivery almost made the magnitude of such an undertaking seem trivial but she was not joking. When Sruti realized that there was no avenue to further her interest in Politics and Communication, she went ahead and started the Cleveland chapter of JSA (Junior State of America – Junior Statesman Foundation) and is now serving as the Lt. Governor of JSA for the Ohio River Valley.
Between Keerthana, Mathura and Sruti, whatever their style or inspiration, serious medicine, persuasive politics, charming communication, delightful dance or melodious music, one thing was clear – their unwavering belief that their desire to succeed, ignited by passion and fuelled by hard work will pave the path to pursuing that passion and achieving their ambitions! While the senior students labored to refine, resolve and reconcile the material that was delivered to them by the speakers and the high-schoolers responded to nudges from parents raring to get them to focus now that it was their turn to be target audience, I found myself indulging in some major admiration of the unique talents, motivation and the keen sense of personal identity that these youngsters had and the ease with which they projected themselves as heroes with a touch of magic and a ton of tenacity.

We were ready for part II of the proceedings and without further ado, Sheba Mathew, a senior at Hudson High School graced the podium. Her self-assured manner gave round 2 a solid ice-breaking start. Her emphasis on ‘Self’ echoed her belief that a conscious blend of courage, passion, creativity, initiative and perseverance can act like a magical talisman before which all obstacles inevitably vanish into thin air. Enrolled in Temple University’s 5-year Physician Scientist Training Program and serving as the President of the National Honor Society (Hudson chapter) and the Science Fair club, a dancer, writer and singer, Sheba was all about ‘Change’. Her compendium consisted of benchmarks in various areas set not by school curriculum or any other external entity but by oneself. She was convinced that success depended on taking risks and facing fears, on not being afraid to explore in pursuit of passion, on actively thinking and questioning and going after what you want (Colleges Love this) and above all on staying optimistic and emerging through challenges by working hard and smart! Coming from her, “Break out of your comfort zone and push yourself to the limits” sounded so easy. I could almost touch her energy and confidence. Without losing the momentum that she had gained, she went on to highlight some of the challenges seniors face that are a little outside the academic realm. “If the pressure to get a Driver’s license is at the tops, you are not alone” she remarked before totting up her presentation with suggestions like keeping a journal, self-evaluating from time to time and finding a balance between academic and non-academic activities to help live up to the challenges. Sheba could not have ended her presentation better than with the Mahatma’s “You must be the change that you want to see in the world.”

The second of the seniors that took center-stage was Vinay Suresh of St. Ignatius whose easy manner and comic-strip style presentation belied the power in his message at first glance, was just what the audience needed as the intensity of the afternoon was at its ultimate. He seemed curiously amused by people’s interest in knowing about him and his accomplishments, he tutors Math at school and is a ‘Unanimous superior’ pianist by-the-way! The casual ‘Stuff’ he summed up in 5 busy slides consisted of academics, extra-curriculars, social stuff, service and exams. He was not ‘off the mark’ when he agreed with his predecessors that one has to choose a subject of one’s interest even when the choice is slim without feeling overburdened by difficult classes. “Do not be afraid to drop the activities that spark no interest”, I am sure was reassuring to some in the audience that continue to feel the need to invest time and effort in activities they realize have no sustaining power either in one’s imagination or in his or her future. This is probably what Francis Bacon meant when he said “How can I take an interest in my work when I don’t like it”? I would have loved to dwell on the tricky relationship between interest and liking but there came rather quickly a simple yet brilliant angle to extra-curriculars. Extra-curriculars as ‘Stress-relievers’! Why did I not think of that? Enough has been said on stress being a necessary consequence of a problem-solving mind but how difficult is it to pick something you like, drop what you don’t and use your choice to relieve stress? Surely not difficult at all but it is amazing how many of us don’t look at it that way. Another powerful assertion for the afternoon was the importance of maintaining a good social circle, a set of social connections that could become a part of one’s life forever. We may never know if our successes or failures are entirely due to our heredity but we definitely can rely on the knowledge that our chances to improve are greatly affected by our ability to use our environment to the best possible extent. “Taking advantage of service opportunities and drawing from others’ perspectives can change you for the better”, stated Vinay emphatically. On the subject of exams, “don’t stress, really don’t” was received with more than just a sigh of relief. As for staying on task, paying attention in class and doing homework on time is something we all do already, don’t’ we?

have a fascination for proverbs and sayings myself, but never before had I seen someone serve them up in a manner so impressive. Tayjas Sathe of Solon High, a National merit Semi-finalist, winner of the Science Olympiad and part-time Magician did not have to say much to attract attention for starters than merely look at Einstein’s “ It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer ” as it decorated the AV set. I instantly knew that I would have a difficult time picking favorites in this category; Time-tested, revered, popular, funny or penetrating, whatever the type, flavor or impact, sayings and quotation are at the least thought-provoking. It is this ‘seedling of thought’ that we are gathered here to sow, sow so it may one day blossom to help our youth rely on their knowledge, realize their passions, have the courage to pursue them and be successful in whatever their subject of choosing may be. Tayjas brought John Capozzi, Montaigne, Ben Franklin, Robert Frost, Oscar Wilde, Pablo Picasso, Swami Vivekananda, Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill to relay their timeless truths through words that immaculately conveyed the power of their genius by engaging the audience in an internal dialogue of sorts. Whether it was an allusion to finding a ‘free lunch only in mousetraps’ or to the ‘elevator to success being out of order’, the message was easy to understand yet potent. There was nothing trite about “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars” or “Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm” either. Embodying the concentrated experience of our race, these messages still have in them the command to elicit fresh responsiveness from current day minds that are replete with invigorating ideas and capable of intense imagination. His disarming style in rendering the meaning of his quotations to the animated audience summed up the show for all present. Roosevelt’s kudos to the ‘man in the arena’ whose face is marred by dust, sweat and blood was a reference to the valiant youth who is preparing to face the challenges of the real world, who inevitably will toil but ultimately have the distinction of spending himself in a worthy cause, enumerated not among those that neither know victory nor defeat but among heroes! My exhilaration knew no bounds and there came the clincher – a picture that was worth a thousand words. An image of a kitten looking at its ‘Lion’s’ reflection and the title read “What matters most is how you see yourself”. Nothing else needed to be said.

The idea of sharing and inspiring was aptly complemented by the panelists who served as ‘successful’ examples of the theme for the afternoon. These career advisors brought with them stories of their childhood interests, shared their thoughts on how they recognized their subject/s of interest and the challenges they faced along the way to accomplish what they truly regard and enjoy today. Whether it was Dr. Gopal Yadavalli’s account of his realization that he had to study medicine as soon as he became conscious of the fact that he was Indian, or Debjani Roy’s fascination for French and Communication and the need to be out there, or Sabeshan Periyathamby’s pre-occupation with dismantling and re-assembling mechanical gadgets, or Kishore Dhupati’s quest to find his passion in his later years of college or Shyam Kumar’s ultimate dedication to Service, what was evident was that each of them heeded to their interest, passion or calling, whatever we may choose to call it, and pursued it until they emerged to be the best at what they did. In today’s world, it is no mediocre effort to define ‘Success’. Success seldom comes from a random spontaneous act or passing participation in the ‘10 Secrets to Success’ seminar but it most certainly does from knowing your goal, not losing sight of it no matter how unsteady the ride and moving towards it unswervingly. Currently, Dr. Gopal Yadavalli serves as the Chief-Infectious Diseases Clinic, Louis Stokes Medical Center and Associate Program Director at the University Hospitals, Debjani Roy practices Federal Disability and Social Security Law at the Balin Law firm, Sabeshan Periyathamby is a Lead Project Engineer at Goodrich Aerospace, Kishore Dhupati is Director of Strategic Planning at Parker Hannifin and Shyam Kumar, Managing Director of Teach for America.
To our younger generation they unquestionably help strengthen the mind and ambition inspire!

A fitting tribute to the afternoon’s proceedings was an inspiring presentation by one of the career advisors Shyam Kumar, a Case-Western graduate who sought to lace his successful career at GE with a spirited commitment to Education, a service he simply believed effects eternity! It was evident from the various examples of community service like the rehabilitation of down-trodden neighborhoods to providing a modern-age learning environment to kids and young adults from low-income families who may only have dreamed of such luxury, that he saw incredible value in being of service to others. His deep faith in divine intervention welled through his passionate narrations of how ‘things just fell in place’ as he gathered up volunteers and set out on a mission to live up to Sri Satya Sai Baba’s saying, “ The Service of man is the only means by which you can serve God”. A proud participant in the ‘Grameena Seva’ movement in India, Shyam started ‘Educare’ at GE, a program rooted in the belief that all children have their characteristic leadership qualities within them waiting to be drawn out by the nurturing of positive traits that emerge and replace those that are troublesome. It is people like Shyam that make it possible to understand the meaning in the belief that the end of all knowledge and education should surely be service to others.

Last but not least, my kudos, a symbolic standing ovation and sincere thanks to the Sponsors of the event that were responsible for the conception of the idea to the orchestration of all aspects of the event. It is challenging, putting it mildly, to express in words the dedication and commitment exhibited by them to causes that are beyond themselves. They have truly shown that an idea when nurtured with care and shaped by sincerity of thought and investment of time can evolve into a beautiful thing that gratifies not only the visionary but benefits an entire community. Aided by the unstinting support of numerous friends in the community, ‘Share and Inspire’ has been instrumental in exposing the enormous talent and accomplishments of graduating and senior Indian students and vital in instilling in the parent community, a sense of camaraderie in the knowledge that they are not alone in their earnest desire to help their sons and daughters succeed.

Somewhere along the course of the event, unbeknownst to me, an unthinking delight took over me and I lost total recognition of my participation as a parent. It was strangely similar to the feeling I get when I take my kids to chuck-e-Cheeses for their play date but completely lose myself to the sights, sounds, colors and tokens that I receive. With this session ending in such a resounding success, my hope is that the tradition continues to thrive and inspire coming generations of youth and parents alike. With their inimitable style and thorough enthusiasm to truly affect the youngsters’ ways of thinking and acting, the speakers and career advisors that carried the event to such a conclusion have truly won the crowd over.

On behalf of the entire community I wish the freshmen and seniors the very best as they embark on loftier goals. There is no question that the road that lies ahead will be a difficult one but the trick to reaching those goals lies in saddling up and looking at the skies ….. Let’s get moving then!
Good Luck and keep up the fantastic spirit!
Dec 2008