January 26, 2024
If I Were a Carpenter
Rather frequently, I ask myself the very question Johnny Cash poses to himself in his iconic song, “If I were a carpenter…?”. In moments when I am frustrated, overwhelmed, or at wits end with the world around me, as I felt today, I ponder my life as a carpenter. I’m not sure what drives my fascination, maybe it’s building something with my hands, the aroma of lumber, or the satisfaction of problems you can actually solve. Sometimes the end changes, sometimes it’s a rancher or a handyman. But regardless, I ask myself this question to think about a different life. One in which I’m not confronted by college, or living in a city, and most importantly these Grand Challenges I feel compelled to address.
This week was challenging. While our peers have had loads of work thrown upon them by their respective organizations, my teammates and I have felt underwhelmed and underutilized. We sat around, with little work to do: writing emails, reading research papers, and trying each other’s coffees.
And then came today. In an effort to brighten my mood, I tagged along with a group of GCIL students to the horse races, something I’ve never witnessed before. Upon arriving I was overwhelmed by dozens of TV screens with betting odds I didn’t understand. In trying to find our seats, we saw half of our group on the other side of a fence. Upon walking all the way around to the other side of the fence, there were no Americans sticking out like sore thumbs. We looked back at the side of the fence we’d just come from and there they were. It was at this moment I began to think I was living in a comedy movie. Musical chairs aside, I loved the horse races, though I’m not sure whether I enjoyed the action on the track or the grandstands better. Watching men on break from work scream and shout and throw things as their bets cashed or flopped put a smile on my face. I think Adam might’ve even broken even.
As we left, we waited in the sun for a ride that never came. Sweaty from walking home, we went for ice cream that had run out. Trying to save face and find myself food, we visited three stores, none of which accepted my payment method. And finally, an ATM that wouldn’t give me cash. It was at this moment, I knew I was living in a comedy movie. Regardless, as frustration piled on, I began to ask myself questions. Why aren’t I a carpenter? Why am I an engineer? Why am I in India?
That is, until I thought of all the little moments from today. Reading on the roof while enjoying the sun and birds overhead, in JANUARY. Watching the entire staff at UTC gather round to help Monika slice open a pomelo. Receiving advice and encouragement from folks in the gym with whom I don’t even share a language. Sparking fantastic conversations over shawarma with locals in the street.
These little moments help to remind me how fortunate I am to have the “problems” that I have. How fortunate I am to be on the other side of the world, learning from India, along with professors and classmates far more intelligent than myself.
Sometimes you don’t realize just how little you know, until you don’t have someone telling you what to do. I hope that in my time here I will develop my ability to identify complex problems, how to seek out better solutions to them, and how to connect with great people along the way.
Being a carpenter isn’t a simple, easy life. Neither is taking on Grand Challenges. Both provide tremendous value to society and personal fulfillment. But if I were a carpenter, I wouldn’t be here trying to learn how I can make the world a better place.
By Andoni
