February 22, 2024

Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright

I just had a meeting with my group at 11:00 at night, and I need to be up at 6:30 am. Let’s do this.

My expectations for GCIL had been culminating for four years. I first heard about it as an admitted freshman, and while I hadn’t a clue what I was doing in life, I saw it as a stepping stone to a life working in the developing world. At times, when I was biking home from practice in the rain at 11:00 at night, or struggling with trivial assignments, or even pondering dropping out, I thought of what lay ahead. If I could just tough out this climb, I would soon be in India immersed in learning which I truly cared for.

And just like that, four of the ten weeks you’ve looked forward to for so long have slipped by and disappointment sits in. How could this happen? A whole week spent at UTC, struggling to squeeze out a report. No interviews. No grand awakenings. It’s hard to feel like I haven’t wasted precious time. After a weekend surfing Pondicherry, returning to report reviews felt like standing in front of a firing squad brandishing a barrage of questions we didn’t have good answers to. How could I have allowed my group to arrive so unprepared?
When I find myself spinning my wheels in the past, I think of Bob Dylan’s iconic line, “You just kinda wasted my precious time; But don’t think twice, it’s alright.” I very well might have wasted my time, but dwelling on it won’t help.

Julian’s only feedback on your report is, “not viable”; don’t think twice, it’s alright. Your group is divided over how to move forward; don’t think twice, it’s alright. Your milk is spoiled again, don’t think twice, it’s alright.

But then Tuesday came. On the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, an hour and half outside of the city, Monika and I joined Hasiru Dala officials for data collection in the village of Billapura. After going door to door surveying household waste practices, we scooted over to Azim Premji University, a school dedicated exclusively to majors which support India’s grand challenges.

The campus felt utopian. Abstract concrete buildings divided by spacious courtyards and modern gardens. Massive murals of traditional Indian folklore wrap around the curved amphitheaters. For hours, we spoke with faculty working alongside Hasiru Dala. Their support and excitement for our project idea put wind in my sails. To top it all off, we returned to UTC to find our MLP board, cut and ready to be assembled into our first prototype.

In lacrosse, we were frequently reminded, “This too will change.” Having a bad practice, bad game, bad quarter? This will change. Having a good quarter, a good stretch of games, a good drill? This too will change. This reminder was echoed, not just to remind us things will get better when they’re going poorly, but to expect challenges ahead even when they’re going well.

This week has been a great reminder of this maxim. Getting torn up Monday, riding high on inspiration 24 hours later, to writing this blog wondering if we’re going to rip apart our GCIL project. Like many fellow GCILers, part of me worries if we can fetch out an idea, a video, a report, and a presentation in two weeks.

To that all I can say, don’t think twice, it’s alright.

By Andoni