Great to see all of you here for Sid’s graduation party and
thank you, Anand and Aruna for allowing me to say few words.
My dad never organized a graduation party for me as he was
not certain when I would clear all my papers.
Sid, your family is extremely proud of you. You can see how
relieved they are as you are leaving the house.
As we talked briefly yesterday, you have been the senior-most
among our kid's circle. We look upon you; what you do, what you achieve, what
choices you make etc. One’s destiny is based on the choices one makes. My wife
asked me to add ‘good choices’ specifically. Not sure, what she meant by that.
Coming back to your parents, they are extremely proud of
you. Considering my maturity and immense experience in life, your dad has asked
me to give some life lessons to you. Here you go.
1. My first advice to you: Be clear on what you wish.
a.
Once a wife asked her husband. “I expect a gift
in the driveway that goes 0-200 in 6 seconds”. On her wedding anniversary, she
saw a nice box wrapped in front of her driveway. Anxiously, she ran towards it
and opened it. What she saw was a bathroom scale.
2.
This brings to my second advice: Stay healthy
a. Once
you are in college, you experience an abundance of freedom. Here come the ‘good
choices you have to make. College students, nowadays, indulge in heavy
drinking and eating. Before you realize it, your waistline will outgrow your chest
line. See what I got. Not pretty.
3.
Sleep
a.
In college, you see very many strange people.
Among them, the strangest are some of the professors. They do the same mundane
work each day as if they are doing it for the first time. My friend once told ‘A
professor talks in someone’s (student’s) sleep. So my third piece of advice. “Don’t
allow someone to talk while you are asleep”. Sleep early and get at least 7
hours of sleep.
4.
Parents
a.
My fourth piece of advice is “Be nice to your parents”.
When I was your age, I thought, my father, was annoying. Now, my kids share the
same feeling. Call them often, say often you love them, and make sure you are
available whenever they need you.
5.
My last piece of advice; to not say excuses in life. If
opportunities are not knocking, build a new door. You cannot get to the top by
sitting on your bottom.
Work hard, be kind to others, help others to achieve their
dreams, be grateful; amazing things will follow. Love you, Sid. Have a great
future in life.
Love
Suresh Uncle.
