By Ragoo Raghunathan

Following up on our recent ISW-PEN event focused on job search strategies offering perspectives from recruiters and hiring managers, a very important aspect floated up as crucial. Networking!

A recent article published by the Harvard Business Review, written by Francesca Gino, Maryam Kouchaki and Tiziana Casciaro, points out how it is easy to refrain from networking – saying ‘I hate networking’. However, they highlight the importance of networking, and how you could overcome that aversion.

The authors have summarized it by identifying four strategies that can alleviate your concerns – Focus on learning, identify common interests, think broadly about what you can give and finally find a higher purpose.

Check out the full article here https://hbr.org/2016/05/learn-to-love-networking

In this issue of eSandesh, we introduce a new feature, a series of interviews with ISW Youth tapping into their views on a number of contemporary and relevant topics.

By Tanvi Gahlot, ISW Youth Reporter

I recently held an online session with four teenagers to find out their opinions on the impact of Covid, social media and academics on their life. Joining me were Jayant Manem, a sophomore (10th grader), Aadi Dixit a freshman (9th grader), Tanushree Nekenti, a freshman and Prachet Mahawar, also a sophomore.

How do you think social media has affected teens, either negatively or positively?

Most of the participants said that they use social media for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. They felt it made teens more distracted and there might be occasions when it might put people in dangerous situations. On the positive side, it was a game changer in being able to connect to people you might never have met before and makes it easier to meet others with similar interests.

How has Covid impacted your education this past year and a half?

Jayant: It has made it difficult to get the education I wanted, in terms of understanding what was happening in class. Also, not only was it difficult online, but now that we are in person, it is hard to get back into the habit of in person at school since remote learning and in person learning are so completely different.

Aadi: Going off what Jayant said, when we talk about remote learning over Zoom it’s more difficult as teachers are experienced and trained to teach in person classes, which are quite different than online classes. This is another factor that makes it difficult for students to understand. Also, even if students were in a hybrid or in person model during Covid, there was a mask mandate. This made it difficult because teachers usually rely on facial expressions to get an understanding whether a class gets the concept or not.

Tanushree: I think that after having gone through COVID, I can say that in person learning is much easier than remote because we’re more likely to get distracted as online students. Even if we want to focus it’s extremely difficult.

Prachet: I believe that one is more connected with in person learning than with online. That’s mostly because there is a strong and easier student to teacher “bond” as the teacher gets to know a student well [in person]. Whereas, in an online setting the teacher can’t focus on one student at a time because the whole class is in the same meeting.

Do you have any plans after high school?

Aadi: Although I don’t have a plan set in place officially, I think I might take a year after high school to work and then go to college. Alternatively, I might go to college directly, my major will most likely be engineering (e.g., mechanical engineer, software engineer).

Tanushree: I am not totally sure about what I want to do in college. However, I know that I want to go to college, even though I am unsure of my major.

Jayant: I agree with Tanushree. I know I am going to college, although I am debating between going into the medical field or maybe the business field.

Prachet: I know that I want to go to college too, I just don’t have a planned major.

What is a skill that you believe school should be teaching us, and it isn’t at the moment?

Jayant: I believe we need more courses on business and subjects that wouldn’t necessarily be covered in high school; this would help extend people's knowledge on what each career field could essentially look like. Basically, more career-oriented courses in different fields.

Aadi: I think a big course that we should be learning is “how to pay your taxes” because in all honesty most high schoolers don’t know how taxes or personal finance works in general. Another possible course would be “job hunting” which could include how to write a resume, and how to perform well in interviews, because it is essential for getting a job otherwise what’s the point of going through schooling if you can’t find a job.

Tanushree: I think another big one would be time management, although it’s difficult to teach. I think it would be a good course for high school or even middle school students to take because it would help you as an adult.

हौसला ———- कठिनाई से घबरा ना कभी ना शोक तू दुख का मना, जीवन मिला सौभाग्य से शुभ कर्म से सार्थक बना। एक दीप आँधी में जला तू रात में उत्सव मना, आना ही होगा सूर्य को विश्वास ये मन में जगा। चाँद की उँगली पकड़ तारों से आँगन को सजा, महकेगी जीवन की बगिया आस की कलियाँ उगा। धैर्य धारण कर के तू फिर हौसले अपने बढ़ा, हर तिमिर को चीर कर आएगी सुबह खुशनुमा। 10 .5 .2021 आशा

COURAGE Don't be disheartened of difficulties Nor grieve of the sorrow, Life is a fortunate gift Make it meaningful by good deeds. Light a lamp in storm and Celebrate the festival in the night, Sun will have to arise Awake this belief in your mind. Hold the moon in your hand Decorate courtyard with stars, Your garden will be filled with fragrance Grow the buds of hope Raise your courageous self By having patience in side, A pleasant morning will arrive By ripping off all darkness. 10 . 5 .2021. Asha

By Rajesh Khare

You or your family members might have some unclaimed property in the custody of the Massachusetts State Treasury and it's easy to search and claim. We will tell you how.

How is that possible?

Maybe someone sent you a check to your old address or a wrong address. Perhaps it was a rebate check, class action settlement, gym refund, employer reimbursement or something else. It could also be stocks or dividends, insurance policies, or the contents of safe deposit boxes. The state holds such property until the rightful owner or heir claims it.

How do I get it?

1. Go to the website of the Unclaimed Property Division of the Massachusetts State Treasury https://www.mass.gov/orgs/unclaimed-property-division

2. Scroll down to "Top actions & services" and click on FindMassMoney.com.

3. Click on "Search for Unclaimed Property" on https://www.FindMassMoney.com.

3. Search for your last name. The search is not pretty but it works.

4. If you find your name, click on "+ CLAIM" and then "FILE YOUR CLAIM".

5. Follow the instructions to initiate the claim.

6. In a few days, you will get an email with instructions from the Unclaimed Property Division.

7. Complete the prefilled form and gather the documentation requested.

8. You can mail it or upload the documents online. Online is easy and fast.

If your claim is approved, you will get a check in the mail soon.

Is this legitimate?

The website link is on mass.gov (step 1 above), so yes. ISW was able to recover a significant amount of unclaimed money for itself and some of our board members did so too. The checks came from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

And finally,

If you do recover some money this way, please consider donating a portion of that to ISW.

A poem by Asha Singh, ISW Cultural and Language School Teacher

क्यों भूलता है मन   कुछ क्षण का है जीवन, आशाएँ पूरी कर ले     कुछ बन सके तो बन । निज स्वार्थ को भुला कर    कोई काम ऐसा कर, मन की ज्योति जलाकर     तू पथ आलोकित कर । दूजे का सहारा बन जा      लालच से परे हो कर , कदमों में गगन तेरे होगा     जीवन की डगर  पर । जीवन के पल हैं सीमित   सॉसें हैं  गिनी चुनी , सब पाने की चाहत में      ये बात ना तूने सुनी । ना जाने कौन सा पल ये      संदेशा ले के आए , जीवन तो हुआ ये पूरा       अब मौत  तुझे अपनाए । दो पल के इस जीवन को       है सार्थक तुझे बनाना , लोगों के हृदय सुमन में      खुशबू बन के बस जाना । आशा

Why do you forget, That the life is short, Fulfill your hopes. Be something if possible, Do not be selfish, Do good deeds for others, By using flame of thought. Enlighten good path to all. Be supportive to others, Without any greed, And In the path of your life. All will appreciate you. And to grab everything, You did not notice that, The breaths are counted, And limited are the moments of life. Don't know which moment, will bring the message, That this is the end of life, And death is ready to adopt. Prove the worth of your life, The life of numbered moments. By settling down as fragrance In the heart of the people. Asha

A poem by Tharegha Manoharan

Let’s talk about tests, Standardized tests. Those tests teachers hand out, That make students doubt, Their entire life route. Education is the purpose for school, It’s supposed to give us the tools, To go fight the wrong, Out there, and strong. We learn math, science, English, and social science. But most importantly, We fail to realize, The life lessons our kid applies. Learning to say please and thank you, And acknowledging all the views, Growing up to right the wrong, And making sure everyone feels belonged, Is not taught with pencils and erasers, But by making sure we are all dream chasers. Grades. It depends on the day. One day, you might get an A, Maybe you were happy ‘cause your cold went away. But another day, you could be upset, And get a score that you regret. But it doesn’t matter. Who cares about your science grade, If you are always afraid. Who cares about your math scores, If you grow up to be a citizen who ignores. Who cares about your MCAS trends, If you can’t be a good friend. If you can recognize the wrong from the right, And gather to knowledge to fight, Trust me, Then only is it right for your degree. Some might say and long, For grades, as they are the path to success, Of course, they are not wrong, But there are other ways to progress. Knowledge and education, Instead of solely requirements for graduation.

Assimilation and application, For the real world, Is more important, Than the letters on your documentation. We should study, study hard, And never disregard, Criticism. But we should learn to laugh, Even at our own witticisms. So send your children to school, Not for the grades, not for the trophies, Not for the future salary, not for the low fees, But for the apt fuel, They need to face the cruel. Students, when you study for your test, Do it for the want of information possessed. Don’t do it for the grade, That you think will determine how you get paid. Complete your everyday assignments, For fine knowledge refinement. Don’t do it for the score, But because you want to explore. Dear mom, dear dad, We always want you to be proud and glad, But we also want to be content, And it doesn’t always come from our average percent. So come and explore with me, The things that guarantee, My happiness for a thousand more years, And I promise I will persevere and never fear. I will do my best, And make the world a better place, I will listen to everyone suggest, And work toward the betterment of the human race.

By Tanvi Gahlot, ISW Youth Reporter

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” every high schoolers nightmare, or not? This question may seem haunting at first, but it gives students an opportunity to think about what we are interested in. In the following interview. Ms. Rhea Vyas, an IYG alumni and Worcester elementary teacher talks about the field of education, it’s challenges, and it’s rewards.

Tanvi Gahlot: What advice would you give to high schoolers who are interested in having a future career in education, like you?

Rhea Vyas: One of the reasons I went into the field of education was because I was very passionate about making an impact and teaching kids. Although sometimes teaching young kids might seem like an easy job, it actually requires a lot of effort. You need to be willing to put the needs of 20-30 kids before yours and have the patience to help each of those kids. So my main piece of advice would be to ask yourself “are you willing to put yourself in uncomfortable positions?” and also to ask yourself “why do you want to go into the field of education”. At the end if you are truly passionate about it, then the job becomes fun and enjoyable each day.

Tanvi Gahlot: How important do you believe having a focused education through high school is?

Rhea Vyas: I think it’s very important. Personally I didn’t know I wanted to go into teaching till my senior year of high school, because of this I always dreaded the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. Throughout high school I juggled between different fields of science, business, and law. However, I did know that I was very passionate about working with kids. I eventually decided on pursuing it as a career during my senior year, even though it had been my passion since I was a young child. Also, being a South Asian it seems as though your options are very limited to being an engineer, doctor, or business woman; and I just felt that I was never represented in a teacher I had. This also motivated me into eventually deciding on the field of education as my career.

Tanvi Gahlot: How would you describe your first year of teaching, considering it was very different due to Covid?

Rhea Vyas: I teach in the main south side of Worcester, which is one of the most low income, poverty ridden schools in the state. This means that many of my students are homeless or have issues with parental custody and some even live with up to 2-3 families in one apartment. These kids have lots of challenges in their background, but these challenges don’t define who they are. Throughout the year I taught first graders (5-6 year old) and these kids don’t let their home life, their family, and their challenges define them. For all the kids around the county this was a very difficult year, where we started off completely remote up till March. This was also difficult for me because I wasn’t just teaching 20 students, I was teaching 20 students and their families who were all listening to what I was saying.

Tanvi Gahlot: What led you to pick your particular grade that you teach?

Rhea Vyas: Well since I am an elementary I have a teaching licence which will allow me to teach any grades from first to sixth. So when I applied for a job at the school they had an opening for a first grade teacher. In a sense I have some choice in the grades I teach, but I don’t get to pick from between first to sixth.

Tanvi Gahlot: What hobbies do you have that allow you to get your mind off work?

Rhea Vyas: Considering that most days involve 12-16 hours of preparation for the following day(s) I didn’t get much time for hobbies. However, I did learn the importance of balance and did end up developing some hobbies which include traveling and painting by numbers. I especially like the very detailed ones because they give me something to focus on.

by Nagendra Rao

Her graceful moves
Soothes sore eyes
Her ethereal quietness
Calms raging minds
Her peaceful swish
Brushes away fears
Her motherly calm
Wipes away tears
Her protective demeanor
Gives strength and resolve
Her peaceful glance
Sweeps worries away
Her silent speed
Inspires noble action
Her serene beauty
Elicits wondrous awe
Her graceful reach
Brings new hope….
She uplifts minds and hearts
A beacon of cheer on a cold snowy lake.

by Ragoo Raghunathan

The first meetup of the ISW Professional and Entrepreneurial Networking (PEN) initiative was held at the newly renovated India Center on Saturday, June 12^th, 2021 at 11 am. Over 20 attendees from Shrewsbury, Northboro, Southboro, Westboro, Grafton and Worcester attended the nearly two hour meeting. The attendees were accomplished professionals from diverse fields such as Computer Science, Information Technology, STEM, Medicine, Education as well as small business owners. They shared their backgrounds and how they could contribute to the community.

A previous brainstorming session had generated over 100 ideas in 10 different categories. These ideas and some suggested activities to get the initiative started were presented to the group.  Some of the activities that would be launched immediately were:

• Work from Home @ISW Thursdays, allowing ISW members who worked from home a change in scenery by providing free access to ISW Center on Thursdays.
• Monthly Meet-ups that would include seminars and workshops
• Programs to help members with through mentorship,
• Presentations on investing in a franchise,
• Educational sessions around financial planning

The goal of the PEN Initiative is to utilize the ISW India Center as a hub to bring together and engage professionals in the Metro West region by providing programs and activities that encourage professional growth and entrepreneurial activities. The next meeting is scheduled for July 10^th, and will be led by Kelly Mittal, Founder & CEO, myKidzDay Child Care App & Early Childhood Technology Consultant (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykidzday/).

Please feel free to contact us at pen@iswonline.org to let us know if you would like to join us and participate in our PEN activities. Click here to register for the July 10th event.

By Tanvi Gahlot, ISW Youth Reporter

In this interview I spoke with Professor Jagan Srinivasan, a professor at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) where he teaches students Biology and Neuroscience. In our conversation he described the basics of teaching and the importance of giving back to the community.

Tanvi Gahlot: What would you look for in a high school or college student if you were to hire them to work in your lab in the summer?

Prof. Jagan Srinivasan: I would look for interest and motivation. Expertise is not required for my lab.

Tanvi Gahlot: Do you need a PhD to work in your lab after graduation or are there opportunities for students with other degrees?

Prof. Jagan Srinivasan: No, people of all types and ages are welcome in my lab. Ranging from a retired person to a young middle schooler or even a high schooler. As I said earlier there are no qualifications, however, your interest to find something new is key. You need to have a “kid in a candy store” mentality, your curiosity must drive you. It basically comes down to being interested in finding out and seeing how science works.

Tanvi Gahlot: What advice would you give to high schoolers who are interested in having a future career in teaching, like you?

Prof. Jagan Srinivasan: My one piece of advice is don’t think of life as a straight path. Everyone learns at some point or another that it’s never a straight path, you need to go through all the zig-zags and curves. As long as you're able to maintain honesty in your profession, a little bit of enthusiasm, the ability to bounce back, and don’t be demotivated by hurdles. I believe that the field of teaching is one of the more noble professions because you are influencing future minds. For instance, as doctors and engineers discover new things, teachers put in those seeds of curiosity which lead to these discoveries. So as a teacher we are responsible for cultivating these seeds and creating curiosity in young minds. For example, Steve Jobs, one of the most famous figures in the STEM field had an interesting background when it came to college. He went to a community college and knew he wanted to make computers, but he wasn’t interested in any of the classes about computers or the science behind computers. So he decided to wander around and ended up attending an art class about fonts, this class allowed him to develop some of the best fonts for Apple.

Tanvi Gahlot: What hobbies do you have that allow you to get your mind off work?

Prof. Jagan Srinivasan: Outside of work I love doing a lot of things such as running, cooking, and doing puzzles. I especially enjoy solving 1,000 piece puzzles with my family as a family activity.

Tanvi Gahlot: What led you to pick your particular topic that you teach?

Prof. Jagan Srinivasan: Although this might strike some people as odd, but when I pick a subject to teach I don’t look for something I know a lot about. This makes me a student of the subject as well, which is beneficial for me since I myself am curious about the topic, so I am motivated to learn and teach about the topic to others.

Tanvi Gahlot: You’ve been volunteering at ISW and also been the general secretary and currently the vice president, what are your thoughts on the importance of giving back to the community?

Prof. Jagan Srinivasan: I personally don’t join ISW to be the vice president or secretary, because that is just a title; I mostly volunteer because it completes me. For example, if we look back at ancient times it can be found that our body was not created to do one major activity, it was created to do 2 major activities. One of them is called “क्रिया (kriya)”, this would include things like providing for our family, working, earning money, basically doing things for our benefit. However, the other activity is called “कर्मा (karma)”, this would include things like volunteering and giving back to the community, basically doing things selflessly and not expecting something for the work you’ve done.