Thank you for saying ‘NO’ to me
Glimpse of My Research Journey
Do you know what a raft is? It looks like this (the image to your left or top), just a bundled set of wooden planks. I pushed it into the gushing waters, climbed into it and settled down on it. I had nothing but with just my hands I paddled it.
Two months ago before the raft, I had a plan for a boat that fits more people. I thought I was in a team but guess I was wrong. They said ‘NO’ to me after giving me hopes. Few more said ‘NO’ to me. Still I don’t know why, may be because I was on the last of smartest kids’ list, or …
I promised myself, I will do this alone and give all of them ONE reason to regret for letting me go.
Well obviously, paddling with just hands will not help me to go against the wind. I thought of upgrading to a sail boat and all I wanted was sails! I went in search for sails but some thought my raft is not enough to fit their sails, they said ‘NO’ to me again, a word I was getting used to. BUT, I did find amazing sails, my supervisors I owe you so much.
I was ready to head on to my destination. We started sailing. There was one problem though, I had no destination. I had a plan (Design Thinking) but I had no destination (a problem to solve). We kept sailing and looking far for many days.
Suddenly, something was visible on the waters, floating and passing by us. I grabbed it unconsciously. It was a bottle, not an empty one. A message in a bottle. I opened it and it had a paper rolled which turned out to be a map. A map to a treasure. I found the ultimate problem to solve.
With this sudden excitement and happiness, came up a disaster at distance. The sky got dark and wind started blowing. Storms shows us how strong we are. It did not break us totally but it showed we need things to fix and do more to improve the sailing. This first storm of the research defense was my first milestone.
I had a destination with a map and a tool to show direction. No I did not have a compass, I saw the northern star up in the sky (Design Thinking methodology). But as I said, we needed more things.
With more sailing, a small island came to our visible range. We stepped into the unknown but guess what we found humans there. A tribe that welcomed us warmly and treated us with nourishing meals, moral building dances and most importantly, a small ship. A ship that can carry more tools. I didn’t feel alone. My family and friends showed up whenever I wanted support physically or mentally. They are my tribe in this journey.
We started sailing again and like expected storms came up rushing on and on again, presentations, critical submissions, publishing research papers. We didn’t fail because we are now stronger.
We kept getting closer and closer to the destination. Something was not right, the cross in the map is almost where we were but there was no land anywhere. I knew it was my time. It was the time to use one of the skills I thought I would be able to use.
I jumped out of the ship and dived taking the risk of not being alive. I was losing my breathe but when it was almost over my hand knocked on something. It was the treasure I was looking for an year.
The journey helped me find the destinations, I solved the problem and in return I got a treasure.
My treasure, the medal for the best research. With so much grit I didn’t care for losing air to breathe, I used my creative skills and got the support of my tribe. The treasure represents all of it.
Next time when you are thinking of reasons to say ‘NO’ to someone, think otherwise. Saying ‘NO’ to me I showed you how wrong you are.
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Thank you Universe!
Thank you dearest supervisors, advisors, loving family and friends (if you are smiling or tearing while reading this, YES, you were one them). ❤
