MICA Dreaming

MICA Campus (taken off their website)

I am currently aspiring for a place in one of India's most prestigious universities for studies in communication, and one of India's most prestigious universities period.

It's almost lunacy- in a country with a population like this one, what chance do I have? Mathematically, at least?

But lo and behold, I, yes I, have been called for an interview for a lovely certificate course at said university. I am at the same time humbled and very pleased with myself. I leave tomorrow for a day long excursion at MICA (Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad for those of you who don't know).

So I've been touching base with fellow aspirants and some alumni and current enviables (read MICA students), and one of them said I should write about "what MICA means to me."

I don't know who said it, and I mean no disrespect, but that very notion kind of makes me laugh. Write about what it means to me? As if it is some girlfriend in some far away city? I'm not even in the college yet, it would be unfair of me to qualify how it makes me feel and what it means to me. I'm still chuckling as I write this. It's like one of those jokes that only you get and no one else does, know what I mean?

Ok, let me do this my way.

I had a dream, nay, a vision of what college was supposed to be. It was supposed to be a time of great freedom and self discovery. It was supposed to be an awakening, a time of hunger, a time of learning. I did have hunger. Around lunch time. That was it. You see, I did engineering (not my idea, and I won't get into that). There is nothing worse in this world than doing something you don't want to do. And my college... wow. The people*? My God. Every day my soul would be crushed. I felt the creativity and spark slowly being smashed out of me. It was enough for me to find the inspiration just to get up in the morning. I tried to find some comfort, derive some power from certain song like this one. "Believe and you will find your way..." Alas, on the days when I did believe and start off with a powerful attitude to take the day my spirit would promptly be crushed by 10 AM.

Then it ended. No tears, no final laugh and acceptance. I did not look back at the place like Tom Hanks looked back at his island when he finally escaped in Cast Away. I had left my Mordor.

My Mordor
Don't be fooled by the seemingly pretty campus! That was what trapped me!

But I missed all that "college fun." And partially, well, mostly, it was my fault. By distancing myself and refusing to participate, I missed out on a lot of things- late night hostel raids, college trips, singing in the bus, studying with friends, taking part in college events- things I would never have wanted to do in that college, yet still regret not doing. Now I see the error of my ways.

And now I get another chance... First and foremost, to do what I've always wanted to do. I was not born a scientist (even if I was born to one). I have a creative bent of mind, and I wanted to use it in such a field which combines that with some scientific thinking- advertising. I didn't get my chance out of school (for whatever reason). But now I have that. The Crafting Creative Communications certification course (whoa! Say that 5 times fast!) from MICA is one of the best in the country, as is their PG degree course. A "creative bootcamp" to drill me to do what I want. My mouth is salivating at the prospect of it.

I want to get my hands dirty. I want my old vision of people sitting under a tree, sharing ideas. I want to hear about extra classes that I would be interested in. I want to look forward to the next lecture, I want to want to hear what teacher is telling me. For too long I roamed around engineering college, wondering how could people be interested in that stuff (because I completely was not). No more! I've always been hungry for an education. Over those 4 years however, I forgot what that meant. There is more than just surviving the next exam!

And second, I will be able to live that college life that I missed. I will take part in everything. I will participate with unbridled enthusiasm and desire. No more fear stopping me- nuts to it! If there ever was a time to do something, now is it. Hostel, friends, late night dinners, study groups, singing along to someone's guitaring, practical jokes, college trips... I want it all, goddamnit! And now here is my chance to take it. All that and more.

Believe and I will find my way? I hope that leads here.

Sooooooo.... yeah. I guess that's what MICA means to me (I'm still chuckling as I write that). But seriously, MICA can provide me more than it's stellar education (and this is not an attempt to suck up, just go through their courses offered!). It can give me that college experience that I so sorely missed out on. It can match that high ideal of learning that I longed for. It can be a balm for heart and mind. A constructive force for my brain as well as my soul, all the while grooming me for a career in creativity... where FINALLY, work will become play, where finally I may be able to find happiness.