Today, I found myself back at the Zoho office after nearly six years. As I walked through the halls of the infamous Bucket Building, where my journey as a software engineer first began, I was overwhelmed with a flood of memories. Zoho was not just my first job; it was where I was molded as a professional, where I learned the ropes of the tech industry, and where I began to envision the kind of impact I wanted to make.
Six years ago, in this very place, I made a decision that would change the trajectory of my life. I still remember the conversation with a friend who couldn't quite believe what I was about to do. "Are you really quitting your job to go teach in a government school?" he asked, bewildered. At that time, I had just decided to join the Teach For India Fellowship, an opportunity that would take me far from the comfort of my corporate job into the unknowns of teaching in under-resourced schools.
I remember telling him, "I don't know if it's going to be easy, but I feel like it's something I need to do." There was no certainty, no guarantee of success, but there was a strong, underlying desire to step out of my comfort zone and pursue something that felt meaningful. It was a leap of faith, and looking back now, it was a leap worth taking.
I often say that being part of the solution rather than being part of the problem made all the difference for me. And that day, when I decided to leave Zoho, was the day I started being part of the solution rather than just cribbing about the problem. It’s a journey, and the journey keeps evolving.
Fast forward to today, and the emotions that welled up in me as I stood in that familiar space were a mix of nostalgia and realization. Zoho shaped me, but it was Teach For India that transformed me. The decision to leave Zoho was not just about teaching; it was about following a path that resonated with my deeper aspirations. And now, as I prepare to embark on yet another journey, this time to the UK, the parallels are striking.
This time, I received an invitation from Zoho to speak in a podcast where I could share my journey and the work we do at EdZola. This invitation felt like a full-circle moment, a recognition and validation of the path I chose all those years ago. It’s incredible to think that the young engineer who left Zoho to teach in government schools is now being invited back to share insights on social impact and technology.
As I prepare to move to the UK after receiving the Chevening Award, where I’ll be pursuing a program at the London School of Economics while continuing to run EdZola remotely, I’m once again faced with questions. People ask me, "Will you be able to balance both? Won’t it be difficult?" And honestly, the answer is the same as it was six years ago: I don't know how it's going to be. It’s definitely a leap into the unknown, another step out of my comfort zone.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my journey so far, it’s that the desire to grow, to push boundaries, and to embrace challenges is what drives me. It’s what led me to leave Zoho for Teach For India, and it’s what’s leading me now to the UK. I don’t have all the answers, but I know that I want to do this, and that’s enough. I’ll figure out the rest as I go.
Today was an emotional day, a day of reflection and realization. Revisiting the place where it all started reminded me of how far I’ve come and how much further there is to go. The journey continues, and I’m ready for whatever comes next.
コメント