"A job well begun is a job half done." These words, said casually by a dear friend, Harshita, have stuck with me this past week. As I reflect on the beginnings I've experienced lately—both big and small—I realize how much truth lies in that statement. Beginnings, after all, are a mix of excitement, nervousness, and unseen hard work.
If you're reading this and you’ve been through some new beginnings recently, whether it's starting the new term at LSE, settling into Goodenough College, or even beginning your journey as a Chevening scholar ( or any other award for that matter ) , I’m sure you know what I mean. Beginnings are special, but they’re also tough. They carry with them change, and with change comes uncertainty. But there's something profound in the act of starting—because it represents all the effort, planning, and grit that brought you here.
For me, arriving in London with the Chevening Award in hand was nothing short of a dream. As someone who grew up in Coimbatore, the idea of studying at the London School of Economics seemed almost unattainable. But here I am, and I know many of you might feel the same way. Whether you're pursuing your studies at a prestigious institution or navigating a new city, we’ve all come a long way to be here.
And yet, beginnings aren’t always monumental. They can be as simple as learning to cook for yourself in a foreign city, like I did last week. There’s something strangely grounding about realizing you’ve started your life somewhere new—even in the small, everyday moments like figuring out groceries or finally getting your kitchen organized. That too, in its own way, is a beginning worth celebrating.
"The beginning is the most important part of the work." – Plato.
It’s in those moments of uncertainty, when you're standing at the threshold of something new, that you start to understand the journey it took to get there. Maybe it's walking through the halls of LSE and realizing the weight of history around you. Maybe it's sharing stories with fellow scholars at Goodenough, each of you coming from different parts of the world but sharing the same sense of purpose and determination.
And let’s not forget the struggle—whether it was the countless applications we wrote, the interviews we prepared for, or the challenges we faced to secure our places here. For every Chevening scholar, the path to this moment wasn’t easy. It involved late nights, self-doubt, and a whole lot of perseverance. But as they say, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
For all the beginnings —remember to take a moment to breathe. Acknowledge how far you’ve come. It’s easy to get caught up in what lies ahead, but don’t forget to celebrate where you are now.
Beginnings may seem daunting, but they also hold the promise of something great. And as you navigate these early days, just remember—every small step you take now is a step towards something bigger.
Cheers to beginnings, and to the journey ahead.
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