Thank you Adelaide!!!

As I look back at my 17 years of Adelaide, I am truly amazed at the journey it’s been. My friends have told me that this is not a goodbye from Adelaide, but rather a “see you in a little while”. While the optimist in me warms to that idea, the realist in me urges caution, using the phrase “think about it”. The pessimist in me is just morose, but thankfully he does not come to the fore very often.

Thus after reminiscing for the greater part of the day as to my memories in Adelaide, I have realised that there exists a rather long list of people that I need to thank and with very good reason. The Prasanna Kovalam of 2012, is different to the Prasanna Kovalam of 1995 and the metamorphosis is truly due to Adelaide.

So without further ado, I’d first like to thank God Almighty for giving me the opportunity to chase my dream, rather quickly in my short life. As I sit and realise that I am only 25 years, I am eternally thankful that I’ve got some years left in me to do something big and hopefully ISB is start of that. I’d also like to thank Him for the silver spoon he’s given me. At times, we tend to forget about that silver spoon, given our lavish lifestyles, but a quick visit to those who struggle day in and day out to make ends meet, gives us a sobering reality check and we rush back to the safety and comfort of that spoon. I’ve had a comfortable lifestyle and I can only thank God for making that happen.

I’d also like to thank my grandparents, three of whom are watching me from above. They were an amazing bunch of people who were my first role models. I learnt the meaning of the words sacrifice, honesty and perseverance as I heard stories on their struggles to raise their children.

If I’d heard stories from my grandparents, I saw my own parents embody the true spirit of sacrifice, honesty and perseverance. It wasn’t easy raising a rather high-maintenance only child (is there any other kind??) but they’ve done amazingly well. As children, we cannot thank them enough, but for what it’s worth “Thanks”.

It has been an amazing and humbling experience to be in the midst of such great friends in Adelaide. I’ve been given the honorific of being called a friend by some and “bhai (brother)” by others. Both are positions I have tried to be worthy of. I have failed in many situations, but I hope I’ve been a good friend and a good brother at times. I will cherish each and every moment I’ve spent with friends in Adelaide. They have been supportive of me, every step of the way, and if today I stand on the cusp of pursuing my dreams, it is because of their amazing support.

I’ve always enjoyed the journey, wherever it has taken me, literally and metaphorically. And if I’d be asked to give any suggestions, it’d be the same “Enjoy the journey while pursuing your dreams”.