International Student Ambassador Initiative...

I often wonder, what makes mankind so successful among rest of the animals? I believe it is the human interaction which has given us the power to share ideas. Generations after generations, these ideas took shape and structure in what we call today is education. As a person from a different culture and country I had a wonderful opportunity to come to Ireland for my education and learn the way of life here. You and I as citizens of this world have this moral obligation of understanding and creating bonds with people of different cultures and traditions and take home with us something best. We could be a team for a cause, we all agree needs a voice it deserves...education! My recent visit to Berlin, I had an opportunity to talk to a person who was surprised to know my interest in German movies; but I was more amazed when he knew Sanskrit (ancient Indian language)!! Fortunately my work takes me to people beyond my field and share and experience some lighter moments with them. Incidents such as these make us realize that a greater worldwide view on diverse cultures is essential and can be a life long experience.

My university, University College Cork (UCC) offers an ingenious way of doing so through an International student ambassador. Through it I intend to meet and interact with people from different walks of life as a representative of my country-India and my university –UCC. As a student ambassador I desire to listen to the needs of the students and address them. I love being part of UCC and its annual events. Through my participation in such events I could socialize with people and take up new responsibilities. Also, presently being post-graduate students committee (PGSC), Tyndall national Institute, UCC I intend to expand my horizons beyond UCC and take up new challenges. It would be nice to represent something which I love to be part of. A vision today will be for an impact tomorrow.

Well...on a lighter note who doesn’t want to learn cooking or singing a melody from land far-far away...

- Ricky Anthony

My Mind...

Many years ago, in an english class, we were asked to write something on the topic 'My Mind'. At first it was daunting task to write on a something so absurd. But I ended up writing 4 pages on it, I guess I had more to write than I could ever speak. 

The first thing that comes when I think of my mind (or any mind) is that its infinite. There is a difference between mind and brain/intelligence. Brain is not infinite, as it collects data through experiences and experiments/learning. But mind is. Mind is the collection of ethics called consciousness.  I remember having discussions about this. Most of the time I am judged 'religious', which I am completely not. Neither would that be spritual. But the real question is what is consciousness. What governs it? I don't have the complete answer, neither does anyone. Consciousness I feel is a higher state of mind governed by ethics.So what governs ethics, it does change from people to people. It also changes from place to place. I believe, every human has an inherent knowledge with which it comes into existence. That knowledge is deeply routed inside us. It gets hidden as a child grows up. This consciousness is sometimes awakened by religious texts or meditation, but in reality it was always there. These texts or meditations, can never give you the consciousness you were born with until it is looked within. So, ethics are governed by a higher source of energy, some call God. But I would say a unlimited energy source from which everything has been derived. But there is a catch, meditating or being religious can make a person self-righteous and hypocrite; taking oneself away far way from the consciousness. The truth is in the end only the intention matters. If a toddler hits a father, the father forgives because the toddler never has a bad intention. So, if my works are not in-sync with my words I go further away from that consciousness. Hence, it gets hidden with time. I believe these dictates, forgiveness without intention of revenge, love without intention of possessiveness, helping without intention of any return, there is increase in humility with more achievements etc., which are essential for peaceful human co-existence.