I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah

I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone

Read between the lines
What's fucked up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah
Ah-ah, Ah-ah

I walk alone
I walk a...

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone...

BACK TO SCHOOL

Howdy Folks,

I have been waiting to write this post from a long time.But my life has been really tough during the last 2 months.
Learnings-

• Always have a first name and a last name incase you plan to study or work abroad(It is not that big a problem as there are ways to workaround.For example I do not have a last name in such cases I-20 would say last name Shivramakrishnan and First Name - FNU ) Incase you have come accross such a situation dont worry this is an exceptable way for the US embassy for Visa.But have a surname to avoid all the tension and extra effort.
• Dont get paranoid about the Visa Unless there is something really strange your visa will not be rejected.Remember you should have sufficient liquid funds (cash,FD'S preferably).A CA certified asset statement is not required and will not add any extra vale to your application ,though will cost you extra money.
• Once you arrive in the US make sure that your I-20 and I-94 both are stamped by the immigrations as else you will have to go back to the airport and get it done.
• Always carry a hand carry luguage which has wheels,Else believe me you will not have a great journey.

I am at Texas A&M university and will be joining MAYS business school.This is my second time outside of India.Today is day 1 of my MBA orientation and I am looking forward to it.It is going to be at the grand George Bush Presidential Library. What exites me the most is that I will be studying with a group of people with diverse backgrounds,age distribution and experience.That means a lot of value addition to an individual's outlook.

The campus of Texas A&M is second to none.You step your foot inside the campus and you get that feel of a college town which we all dream to study in. Students driving cycles , greenary,students sitting at starbucks coffee and sipping the caffeine and browsing.Isnt that something we all dream about??

I am really happy that I am going to be studying here,I have to make sure I make the best of this oppurtunity,make my studies here an enjoyable experience as I dont think I will be back to school again post my MBA degree.

Wish me good luck for day1 and I shall be back soon!

Cheers!

Update on my Applications

Hi Folks,

It has been really long that I have put an update on my current application status

So without wasting much time here you go......

NYU Stern-Dinged

ISB- Dinged

UNC Kenan flagler- had an interview - Dinged

Said OXFORD-Dinged

Mays Business School-Accepted! Ye Ye Ye :-)

William and Mary-Accepted! Ye Ye Ye :-)

Indiana Kelley-Dinged

Weatherhead School of Management-Accepted! Ye Ye Ye :-)

Carnegie Mellon-Accepted! Ye Ye Ye :-)

Georgia Tech - NA (I say N.A as I do not wish to know the status of this application either,One important fact is one wishes to have reciprocation and communication with a school when you apply and I have had zilch communication from here and when enquired I was told I would not be given updates through emails and If there is a positive response it would be through surface mail and not an email ..How rediculous is this in this techie world I ask in the name of lord??)

I have made my mind and have decided to pursue my MBA @ MAYS .It makes me feel really good that my application ,profile,academics,background was respected here , also this was my last interview and brought out the best out of me ..extra pust..extra effort..extra mile..

But all what I can say today is the whole process has made me a better implementer ,a better analyser and most importantly a better thinker .It brought out the best out of me which would not have been the case if it was a cake walk.I cherish this experience and today I am totally satisfied with what I have accomplished.

cheers!!

What is the mantra of success a million dollar question!

Hang in there,Is that a secret to success?
Always I question is this the mantra of success..May be it is right .I feel we are all lucky to be born in an age where things are much simpler,It is easy to dream big as we have seen tons of people turning there dreams to reality.Most important thing that NRN has done i believe is not building a Infosys but making many worth their salt believe that they can also create Infosys .
But the disadvantage of the advantage I talked about above is that we get flustered easily..Yesterday I was surprised when the news of a one of our projects going to one of the competitor broke and I had few freshmen hardly 6 months into the industry coming to me and asking me what should we do?
My answer to all such people is learn from the situation..Enjoy it and prepare your self for the big wave of oppurtunities that is going to come by in future worry is not going to solve anything.
Human tendency is to look for results and not talk about the hardwork,
We always ask if I do this will I get there ...I have also asked these questions zillions of times
My strong belief is things have to be bad for something good to happen,what does monotonous boring work give birth to ??
Answer is simple ground breaking Innovation.
If you want to be a part of it prepare yourself ........

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!

Finally a big marathon is over..Got over with 8 applications..



Let me share my feelings



For those who might think a Gmat to be stressful You gotta think again cause completing applications is a nightmare...



I just got over with 8 applications Phew! and have some more to go.......



For some statistics regarding the Investment



Approx application fees = 80-100 dollars

Approx cost of sending transcripts (US univ) = Rupees 1000

Approx cost foe forwarding GMAT and Toefl scores = 17 dollars each = 34 dollars



So that total cost of an application is approximately between 120-160 dollars

And that reminds me boy i have spent a lot of money.



But then I think if you want to achieve something thing in life you need to take a risk and at an age of 25 if I am not afraid of taking risks!



Let me share some funny moments



As you prepare your gmat one big change that it brings about is you are in its hangover for months.Your are surrounded by why and what questions like





If you are out on a dinner you would ask your friends

• What are your short term and long term goals => What do you want for starters and what would you like for main course..

You catch a friend roaming in the town with a girl and when he gets back to the room you ask

• what are your short term and long term goals => Are you just flirting or is it a start of something serious...

If you want a movie ticket for Friday first day

• I am applying in Round 1 as it gets difficult in other rounds => I am booking advance
  tickets as else the tickets will get sold out .


• I am currently waitlisted in Round 1 => I found a man selling tickets in black and he said he would give the ticket to me incase he does not find a higher bidder.

Now these might not be totally the case as I have added little spice to it but yes saying that 80% of what I have said above is true will not be wrong and many would agree with me.

But my advice is the process of giving the GMAT and completing applications is rigourous but it makes u a better prepared and aware person.If you get frustrated or dejected it will not help but stay there and hang on till the end that is the true secret.Enjoy the dings as you would enjoy the accepts, after all what is destined to happen would eventually happen.

I will never forget what my dear friend Promod said during my days of struggle ..he said

Dude give your self credit that you are pulling your self hard for this,It is not easy for an Indian with 4.5 years of industry experience and leading a team and shouldering critical responsibilities to come back home from office and switch modes.

Give your self credit that you are probably amongst the 15% people who actually do this and think beyond.

This thought always gets smile on my face,makes me feel good about my self,I feel confident and ready for the fight and I would fight hard till the last minute!

Applied

Welcome to my Life

Hi Folks,

First of all my salute to Ratan Tata. Sir, thank you for the wonderful gift - Nano!

Personally when I read the newspaper today, I was taken back to my childhood. Standing at the front of the scooter with my dad driving, mom and sister on the back seat...
And the thought that comes to my mind is dude that sounds scary..

You have indeed made every Indians dream a reality and as you say you lived up to the promise.

Alright going ahead with my blog..

As the title says it is never too late to start..And i have decided to start blogging from today. Blogging was something that i always wanted to do, but some how it enjoyed only my lackadaisical attention. But now that I have started, I want to make it a regular habit so that i can capture my thoughts so that i can retrospect on the wonderful memories.

Today 11th Jan 2008 and what a hallmark day to start blogging.

I am living for the sheer curosity to know what is instore for me in future. Isn't that what life is all about..no not just money ..no no not just happiness...not just Love..But primarily to know what is going to happen tomorrow!

I work for Infosys and the journey has been almost 4 years. Today i am @ a juncture where i feel i need to move on..Do something i love doing , some thing I am good at and some thing where people look up to me and say - He is a wonder..

Sounds like a dream right ?? Cause it does to me. But then dreaming is the first chance to see yourself achieving something..

So let me kick my lazy ass and chase my dreams...

On that note i will sign off my first blog...

Adios!