There are times when we all lose track of our dreams, caught up in the mundane day to day life. But somewhere in our subconsciousness it is still alive. They say that dreams don’t die until we let them and the real tragedy of life is not death but what we let die inside of us while we live. Especially for a youngster at the after the age 20 getting lost in the world of just work.

While working for a software company in India, I heard about the company HQ location of Santa Clara. I Googled it and got to know that this place is part of Silicon Valley in California which is home to many start-up and global technology companies. At that point, I just left the thought wishing I could be part of such a community.

Later that week on a Saturday, my friend was preparing for GRE, which is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for most Graduate Schools in the United States. She asked me to help her with her prep for the exam. I developed an interest towards the exam pattern and used the resources to prepare myself for the exam without thinking about the feasibility of landing up in the US for an MS. I gave the exam without my parent’s knowledge and I managed to get a decent score. Then I spoke to my dad about it. He was in a financially unstable situation and this thought of me pursuing my higher studies did not appeal to him. After days of discussion my dad agreed for me getting my MS and we, as a family, worked together on the financial matters and managed to get it done.

When the University applications opened up, I knew only one thing; that I have to be in the Silicon Valley region. I checked for Universities that matched my financial ability and my desired course. I found one of the state Universities had exactly everything I was looking for and hence I applied only to this one University, while everyone else had applied for a minimum of 5 Universities for back up and choice. I had only one choice and I was sure about it and I believed in it. People advised me that if I don’t have backup Universities I will be wasting another year or six months waiting to take the course next year. Meanwhile the US elections results took us all by surprise and I got ‘gyan’ sessions from people telling me to take up my Masters in a safe country where immigration policies are lenient. With just weeks left for applications to close, I still had only applied for one University.

But guess what?

I got through it and now I am in the heart of the Silicon Valley region pursuing my MS in the field that I had always wanted to! Despite the circumstances, I had only one choice and I had faith in it and that is the only reason why it came true. Everyone’s dream is different and unique in its own way but the seed for realizing it is just one. It is believing in it. If you have a dream, believe in it firmly!