Memories of School Boards

I completed my school in 2001 when I cleared my 12th CBSE boards. I still can remember those couple of months of heavy duty studying for the CBSE boards, not only in 12th but also in 10th. I can still remember my Dad's words "This exam will decide on the future you want". I guess it does in a way, apart from getting in college. It makes us know how much we like a particular subject. In my 11th, I had taken Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry and Maths as my subjects. I did miss History & Geography when I left my 10th as I liked the history of different places and times. Geography was another topic which is interesting as you know which country is capable in what way. But letting Biology go from my hands was not a tough thing as I never like the mugging or cramming of things. The only thing in biology that was interesting was the Human Anatomy.

During the months for preparation of the boards, all the guys used to forget what was happening around us and really hated if a World cup match was coming on TV, either it be Cricket or Football/Soccer. The pre-board exams of my school were pretty tough as they wanted us to score better marks in the boards. It did really help as we used to get -5 or +5 marks in the boards to that of the pre-boards. Also due to these exams we never felt the tension of the Boards and its major importance. We used to be well prepared. The only thing I still can remember is the last exam of the boards when everyone after the exam would crash for partying straight out of the exam hall. Now that is something people have waited for months.

The other day that is of importance after the board is the day when the results are declared. People prayering, stressed out, eagar for their marks but the more effects of these can be seen on the parents who are in worser situation that the kids. The results are out on the internet and also on the notice boards around the country and in every school. Some really happy,other sad, some amazed at their own performance in some subjects and others shocked at the result coming low. Every year when a board result comes out, there has to be some paper in which the corrections are done pretty strictly as that can be seen by the list of marks of students in that subject taking a dive. I have seen great students taking huge falls while in some cases have seen some others having huge leaps through the marks. Even after getting the papers rechecked, there is no changes except for the education industry eating up the recheck money.

Imagine those few exams that we write decide the future for so many people. It is one sad thing as fate can play astonishing games. The worst is current senario where due to the importance of this exam, I have heard of people Suiciding only because of slight bad performance in this exam. The level of importance given for this paper by society, parents, teachers and friends can make a person stress out at that age of 15-18. The amount of stuff to be learned keeps on increasing for each year. The worst is still the weight of books that kids nowadays have to take from Kindergarden onwards till 12th. With so much technology we still have to carry heavy bags filled with books. These antomatically are tickets to health problems. Everything should be to a limit and should be taken care off. I am not criticising any particular system. Just that the system needs to be improved.

Another thing is the pattern of exam we write. In the Indian system of exams, we are habituated of writing answers to each question in an essay style or to the point. We should also be given some points in school itself on how to tackle other patterns of question papers like GRE, TOEFL, SAT etc. I mean the objective kind of questions and other things. We should be slightly given preparation to tackle other kind of techniques. That can be a major help. Also the system should be improved to help students and make them attract studies by different ways like using audio-video presentations. Hope the future has better things instore for the coming generations.

Valentine's Day

I thought of bringing up this topic. Really what's so special about this day, okay not only this day but other days like mother's, father's, brother's, sister's, parent's, grand parent's and etc. I guess you can end up having each day of the year celebrated with something or the other. What I really want to know is that doesn't one love someone for the whole year that they have to show it only on Valentine's Day. Also don't they celebrate their anniversaries that they have to create another day like this.

The only thing that happens on this day which you will get to see in the media is what world records are being broken. From longest time a couple can stay kissing to weirdest way of tying the knot. Getting married underwater, in air while parachuting and other ways. This is the most hype created by the media. Many people make amazing profits out of all this. The greeting card industry alone makes 1 million cards on Valentine's Day. With so many kinds of days being celebrated, the industry thrives and also the media enjoys showing something different.

The major issue is that when a couple love each other, they need not show their love to each other only on Valentine's Day, they can show it throughout the year. Also Valentine's Day is not a holiday so what is the use of celebrating in a manner where people end up taking holidays on their own account. Student's bunk class for just spending time with their girlfriend. Isn't it enough that they already spend time after classes, and now they need to bunk also. With the advent of cell-phones, cheap call rates and free SMSes, they stay in touch with one another throughout the day. What more is needed?

The main point I am trying to make is that giving too much importance to a day is bad enough, try giving the real importance to the relationship. Bad breakups, Hurtful Divorces, isn't their already enough problems in the world that one trys adding more. We are humans with great power of thinking, why can't we sort out the problems and live happily. Everything needs work, nothing gets done on its own.

Sports in India

This topic I bring to you as it is another important thing to be talked about. India's population is above 1 Billion (100 Crores), that is 1/6th of the World's population. Its amazing to find that we donot gain much in Olympics or any games in general. How many people know what is the national game of India. Some may answer Cricket but actually it is Hockey. The only time anyone sees a hockey match in India is when it is in finals or against Pakistan.

The fault could be because of the Media. But the entire blame cannot be on the media itself, it goes on many people. In India Football (Soccer) has been played from ages and the teams are existing from half a century and more like Mohan Bagan and others. But media coverage and money invested by people in the games like Cricket have wiped out the popularity of the other games. Cricket has become the lifeline of India. The money made by the cricket games go to few people who run the BCCI which is a private organisation.

If the media can publicise the other games in India and generate some positive effect, that would really help also. Nowadays many talented players don't play these games as no one can pay good amount of money. This is because there is no publicity of these games. If a Final match is going on of an Indian Football team, the stadium will be practically empty while for some Cricket match the tickets will be wiped out the moment the counters are open. Even if you ask anyone about the details of matches going on, they know that which cricket match happens where. But if asked about a Football or Hockey match they wouldnot even know if it was happening in their backyard. What is all this? We loose major talent due to this. Neither the government is ready to take all of the games under their wing and really spend the money in making things work.

Talking about the government, I remember that when last time there was Olympics in Sydney in 2000, lots of people went from India for that. I mean Government personnel went with teams for representing. There was a Kabaddi team which had gone, but the question arises what was it doing there as this event doesnot exist in Olympics. Apart from this some other players were made to stay in lodges will the officials travelling with them spend time in 4-5 Star hotels and threw parties which was anywhere between 4-10 Lakh rupees (Even if the players lost the event). When we have money the corrupted people end up spending in the wrong places. We really need to straighten things out. Out of 6 people in the world, 1 is an Indian we should be dominating the Sports scene. Hope things get better.

Are you enjoying your life?

This topic comes to me whenever I see the people around me. I am not talking about only about enjoyment in ones life. This is more in relation to money making and other things. It is natural for anyone to take up jobs which offer better pay. The question here is what are you going to do with all that money. Ofcourse you will try spending it but here's the catch, you are busy making money. Therefore you are stuck in a vicious circle.

Instances is what people want. Okay, I see people in Bangalore leave for their jobs in the morning around 7-8 am so that they can make it to their offices which can start anywhere between 9-10:30 am. So well done if one reaches on time in traffic conditions of Bangalore. Once in the office, people are busy trying to meet deadlines or finishing up with their work. If anyone finishes his job by 5pm he is lucky to be back home or somewhere enjoying sometime. If you leave late, you are tired enough to just show up at your home and have dinner. Then you crash for the night. This process continues throughout the week. When weekend shows up, and you have 2 days holiday then thats another blessing to spend time. Even if you get only a Sunday off then you atleast get to relax. But what happens, some chores are left, like paying bills, getting this and that etc. So life moves on. Currently this is the way of life.

There was a time when we knew which day used to pass by, but currently we have to keep track of which week or month passes by as everything is zooming past us all at a fast rate. People have to learn to respect their life and earnings. Once I heard from a senior citizen, why are you cutting on sweets and salty stuff. He said "Have it now because once you get old you will end up with Diabetes or High blood pressure, then none of this can be taken. If you are planning to enjoy later in life, then forget it". Those days are gone when people were healthy in their 60s. Now crossing you late 40s are itself scary and a challenge.

I am not saying to spend all you savings. Savings is an important part of life but I am just saying that one should know how to have some fun when you have the age also. Stay in touch with friends and take care of your loved ones. Life expectancy is nowadays reducing a lot. Even if Medical field have found many ways to save human life then also thousands die each day due to Technology which itself brings good and bad events. Also major diseases keep poping up in different times. Another example, Small Pox and Polio was a problem once in the 70s and 80s. It has been nearly eradicated due to the hard work by the medical professionals but we have ended up with deadly diseases like HIV and AIDS, now Mutated Bird Flu. Anyways once we get a solution to this, we will end up having something more dangerous. It is nature.

Back-benchers to teaching

This is the beginning of another weekend and today words seem to be distant from me. So I plan to pick something from my past which might interest some. Since I can remember, the back bench of my class always was meant for me. I clearly carried out my tradition of being a back bencher in college and also currently in my institute. But in school, the teachers had come up with an idea which was the rotation technique. They purposely tried to keep 5-6 rows of benches so that the students don't go farther away from the staff standing at the front of the class. Also they kept making each row rotate to the next while the back benchers come to the forward row. This idea was very successful but since always students have tried out-smarting the teachers and have come up with awesome ideas. To escape this the back benchers started sitting on the last bench on that day of the week when class time-tables used to be heavy with no breaks. While the lighter days of the week with labs and extra curricular activities used to lead us to sit on the 1st or 2nd rows. That ofcourse solved some of the problems. In college, as long as you make no problems on the last bench by disturbing the staff, you will remain King of the back bench.

The only lose of being a back bencher is that you have to work on your grades better than anything as one tends to not listen in classes. Either be regular in studies and stay ahead of the staff teaching you or else pay attention sitting on the last bench which is amazing if you can attain that goal. In college, some staffs' teaching used to be captivating enough for people to listen to their lectures. This is where I can say a quote (origin of saying not known), "Top students or Geniuses don't make good teachers, love for teaching or imparting knowledge in an interesting manner can conquer all the students". This is a fact which can be seen even today. I have seen my friends who can make you understand a topic in 10-15 minutes while a staff has tried to get that same topic in your head in 1-2 hours class but in vain. Teaching is all about Passion.

Teaching is one of the most respectful careers as you help mould thousands of life but the problem comes with the idea that teachers are not paid very well. Therefore many never choose this as a career option. Worst is that even the ones who choose donot take it seriously. 3 people in this world can mould a child at a young age to anything from Good to Evil. They are the child's Mother, Father and Teacher. The responsibility is huge, but very less have been successful. I still remember the name of the staffs who have taught me from school as they are people who you cannot forget as they devoted their attention without any selfish reasons. I still pay my respects to all of them whenever I am at home. Noone realises thing in this world until its late.

About my certification courses

I am currently studying at Indian Institute of Hardware Technology (IIHT) in Bangalore. I have been completing courses like MCSE - Microsoft Certified System Engineer, CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate, Sun Solaris Administrator, Comptia N+ , Ret Hat Linux Administrator and finally with Oracle DBA course. Usually people go along with 2-3 selections. When I was attending , I wanted a strong background in Networks and its Administration. Most of the courses provide me with an opportunity in different platforms. Taking Oracle DBA was more as I wanted to know Database Administration also as System Administrator it is necessary to have a knowledge of most things. The only thing left is all the exams I have to appear after completing my courses at the institute.

When I was doing my 4 year Computer Engineering at the University, I thought it will be really into computers guessing about Software and Hardware. I learned more Hardware on my own with the help of my friends who taught me how to take apart a whole computer CPU and assemble the whole package. Apart from all that I was also able to learn in the hostel about networking with other computers creating our own small LAN network which by the way was destroyed into many pieces by the college authorities without prior warning. Reason for destroying the network was not a sufficient one, even proof was not shown. In the end an apology from the college authorities was given without any compensation on the 300 meters of LAN wire that was destroyed as multiple cuts were made throughout the wire. That's life, isn't it.

The Hardware part which was going to be taught in the college was cancelled in the second last semester and we were asked to attend another computer language lab. So finally in my batch I had people who had no idea what a RAM or a Motherboard or Hard Disk looked like. In a college, computer science engineering basically means Software Engineering. (PERIOD). The amount of Languages they teach is for the IT industries. This is where I kept trying to make out what is the difference between Computer Science Engineers and Information Technology Engineers as both branches are taught side by side. Apart from these branch all the other basic branches of engineering are having scope in the IT industry. I saw more than 500 people be selected by the IT companies and maximum out of them 200-250 were from the IT and computer background only (including B.Tech CSE, IT, MCA, M.Tech CSE etc). So finally every kind of branch people are being accomodated in the IT industry. What will happen if they think of going to their core companies. They will be having Nil experience related to the core field. There will come one such time.....

Something about myself

Its been quiet a while since I wrote a post on the blog. My Internet connection was down for sometime due to some fault on the Optic Fiber cable line. Anyways I am back now and thought it is better to talk about myself first before all the incidents that took place in my life. I am currently 23 and still studying. I have graduated in Computer Science Engineering branch from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT). So currently I am studying some certification courses like Microsoft Certified System Engineering (MCSE), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and some others. Sounds easy but after all the course that I am studying at Indian Institute of Hardware Technology (IIHT), I have to appear for these certification exams which usually end up have passing or clearance marks anywhere from 65% to 80%.

I have spend 14 years in clearing through school and then high school. After that I spend another 4 years to graduate from a technical university. Now I have been completing this for the past few months. Looks like my studying spree will continue for sometime. I plan to take up a job for sometime and continue with it for some experience. Once I feel in the next few years that its time then I can go on to finish my Higher graduation. I used to think that I should master in my field making me more technically sound like mastering in Networking or Computer Sciences, but during my time in college my classmates and staff have suggested me on doing MBA. I kept thinking since every person on earth is currently finishing up with a Bachelors degree is doing it that is why I am being suggested but the main reason is due the interest I show in Management handlings. Anyways I guess the future will tell me about it.

All my classmates are getting settled with a job somewhere or other. I am still glad that they are in touch with me and also their calls keep coming. I duly ask for forgiveness sometimes for not calling them on a regular basis. Most of them have ended up with great jobs, mostly Information Technology sector. I am sure they will thrive a lot in their jobs and knowledge. Actually just a day or two back I received an invitation to one of my friends Engagement which is being held in the next few days. Looks like some are planning on tying a knot, hope the best for their future.