Immortality

There aren't a lot times I feel like throwing out my modest and humble nature. As much as I try, I just end up telling myself that it isn't worth it to behave the in the perceived 'Maryite' manner (read: arrogant, snobbish, absolutely in the air, having an attitude, considering other people as dirt and not worth talking to). There are many more things I need to add to this list to complete it, but that would be another time.
Point is, I am a product of the school and I do have all of those 'qualities' (actually, I shouldn't even put this word is inverted commas, because I truly think that in the right kind of a person, these qualities are 100% what the word wants to portray). Somehow, I never seem to bring them out the extent that I have people cursing me for it.
But, today, I want to. I want to jump in the air and tell people that I am SO BLOODY GREAT!! I want the whole world to know that I have done great things and am going to do great things. I want people to walk up to me and ask for my autograph (or the medical equivalent of such a scene :-)). I want people to turn around and look at me twice and say, "Look, that's her!" Basically, I have reached immortality and I want to flaunt it. I want the whole college to know that my name has finally appeared on the Roll of Honour Board. BECAUSE IT HAS!! And it shall remain there, a proof of my achievement for generations to come :-)

Man, I feel like Gagan Narang right now. I don't have my name up there for three consecutive years or anything. But, I have it up there for that one year. That's enough to make me treasure it for a life time. An Olympic Medal is a medal- gold, silver, bronze...ultimately that podium finish is what every sportman dreams of. Congrats to Narang, by the way. He has actually made me believe that this hyped up Indian Contingent had some real people capable of delivering when it mattered.
Seeing my name on that board has ignited a flame inside me that wants it up there another time. I am going to work very hard to make that happen. Oh, and what made that moment extra special was that, I saw it on my  parents' wedding anniversary. The news and the photo made a very special gift for them. We have had 6 people from our family graduating from BJ Medical College. I'm the 7th and the 1st to have made it to that Roll of Honour. This is a matter of pride :-)

 Let's hope I deserve another try at this honour again :-))

p.s. I topped BJ in my 2nd year University Exams. That is what this post is related to. To read about it, refer to "From the Topper's Desk", dated February 25th, 2011.

The Expected and The Unexpected

Our Third Minor results were declared on 22nd February (Wednesday). I have come 2nd this time- an aggregate of 292/400 (73%). I also managed a Distinction in Ophthalmology :-)
I was so freaked out when I heard that the results were out online. I have never been the kind of a person to get freaked out by results, you know. I actually pride myself on my control and temperament at such a time. This time, however, things were different. For one, last year's accomplishment kept replaying itself in my head. I really don't care much about what people say or think, but after last year's score and the shock everyone got, I know I was probably the first person who's marks would be checked by one and all- "Lets see how much last year's topper scored!" I did not want to be a one-time lucky shot kinda thing. I have that talent and determination in me, and getting a good score this year would only serve to emphasise this very fact.
I know, for a fact, that I did not study as much as I should have this time. I definitely did NOT study as much as I had in my IInd year. I got involved in things other than pure academics, the Ophthalmology and Paediatrics Quiz came up, I wasn't in the right state of mind for a major part of my PLs...and there I was, telling myself I was well-prepared, when I knew I wasn't. It was too much to ask for a top rank. All I prayed for, was a score that would keep my integrity and my mindset intact.
Going back to the time I heard results were out, I couldn't get myself to go online. Instead, I did what I have never in my wildest dreams, thought I would do. I called up a school friend and told her to talk about everything other than results. Sweet that she is, she agreed and the next half hour was spent in chatting about everyday happenings in our parallel lives...It calmed me down. It really did. When I was ready, I went online to check my score.
Funny thing really, I got disappointed when I saw it. I thought I'd managed a 60%. The relief that a 300/400 gives my mind can obviously not be given by a 292/400, as close as it is to that 300. Well, and that 292 underlined the fact that there had to be people ahead of me. Human that I am, I was disappointed. The only aspect of my scorecard that brightened my mood, was that 76/100 in Ophthalmology. Now, I have Distinctions to boast about, in every exam until now :-) (Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Ophthalmology).
The topper this time has got 76%. There is a 12 mark difference between us. But, I know she deserves every bit of it and well, at least I came 2nd :-)
I hope I can do better than this in my Final Year. It is my last chance and I want to give it all I have. I know that I have it in me to get to that Rank 1 and 2....I can't get there 2 years in a row by fluke, right? I'm delighted that I could make my Mother (an Ophthalmologist) stand tall and say, "My daughter got a Distinction in Ophthalmology" :-) In fact, having also represented BJ in the Ophthalmology quiz, I have done all that is possible with that subject :-) That was my aim when I first fell in love with that subject in January 2011:-)
I'm a pleased person today. I have done well enough and I am pretty proud of that. It is another issue that my family is happier than I am...it is strange, how your loved ones can manage to make you happier than you actually feel :-)) Love you all, guys!! Thank You :-)

From The Topper's Desk

So the 2nd yr University results are out. AND I HAVE TOPPED MY COLLEGE!!!!!!!!!! By a whole 8 marks!!! I got a 74% (407/550), with distinction in two subjects :-) I remember having written that I simply love Microbiology and my aim is to get a distinction in that subject. Well, I achieved my aim and more - I got a distinction in Micro and in Patho. Hurray!!
The D-Day had long been prolonged and fought over. The usual rumours were in full swing every single day from last week. If any of those had been true, we'd have had 10 different results by now. The official date till yesterday afternoon was 24th February ( i.e. yesterday :-p), 5pm. Yesterday afternoon it was changed to 25th February (i.e. today), 6 pm. I was more involved in wanting to watch the ICC Cricket World Cup than being nervous about a result I had lost all excitement for!! And, in the middle of watching it, I get a phone call from a friend, " Congratulations!!! You've topped!!!", and he sounded SO happy!! I was confused, I was a little shocked, and yeah, basically CONFUSED. I said I'd go back and check it up on the net. When I did, there it was: 407/550. And the distinctions. It was really scary to start with. I mean, ME??!! Topper!! Impossible! If I've got 407, there has to be someone else who has got 408 or more. I'm just not of the kind that comes first. I come second. I come third, but never first. That 'first' is this ungettable, faraway, dreamy place that one can only fantasise about. Honestly, through  my entire second year, I never ventured to fantasise about it. It was too costly a dream.
So, you have to believe, when I heard there was a chance that I had topped, I didn't want to believe it. It was just like those morning dreams. Somebody was going to pinch me hard and burst my balloon of happiness (i'm still feeling like that. Guess, this what the unheralded Oscar Winner or that shocked Wimbledon Champion feels...and then people wonder why you don't sound as happy as they expect you to be!).
There's always a first time for everything, and this is my time. I want a few days to pass. A few days after which it will become a 100% fact : Pranjali Sharma, Topper, 2nd yr, BJMC, Pune.
I am still praying to God: Just let this be. I deserve this. Don't take it away from me, not after having given it to me, let me have a feel of it and given me a chance to feel what those people feel; those toppers feel...
So, what's it like to become a topper? Dammit, scary!!! Those Gold Medallists in the Olympics will probably have an idea about this. So you get to wear the medal, hold the bouquet, take the pictures, have the National Anthem sung.....and then you wait....for those dope test results...knowing you haven't done anything wrong, but still praying, hoping, wishing it all comes clean...yeah, that's what I'm feeling right now. I know I have done all the hard work, haven't anything wrong, but till somebody (in authority) can tell me for sure that there's no change in my results or anyone else's results, I am going to be scared and nervous about this.
Ok, so that is it. No more thinking about the bad stuff. I turn to my ultimate love : Cricket. I am going to have a lot of fun, watch the entire WC with as much dedication as last time, and have an immensely delightful and exciting time :-) :-) :-)
p.s. my next posts could well end up being a recap of the World Cup. So non-cricket-fan-readers, beware!!!