When I was 15...

Haven't written on Linkedin in ages, but since today it's turning 15...here goes a celebratory one #WhenIWas15 . Written raw, unedited, unpolished.

At 15, I was in my first year of high school. A complete introvert, comfortably nerdy interested only in math, science and ...chess. Devouring Britannica and Encarta Encyclopedia on disks. Internet was on dial-up (unthinkable right? How many of you remember that connection sound and leds flashing?) I was touring internet cafes to read fan stories of Stargate SG1. I was barely using Google...

I was studying the math behind black holes after school, at home, with my headphones on listening to Led Zeppelin and was dreaming of becoming an astrophysicist.

I didn't like studying the school curriculum...not like other kids. I had my own rhythm of doing things...and I only did my homework or studied when I was "in the flow" - that could be late at night or 4 am in the morning.

The other thing I wanted to do always was play chess. Coming home from school at lunch time, I used to play on Chessmaster for 3-4 hours straight before switching to something else. At 15, I was working harder to beat the computer at that than get high grades in school, though my former colleagues might disagree and think i was working very hard to be a good kid. In a sense I was, just not the cramming kind!

I wanted to be a psychologist! I thought if I never got to do something science-y, I might do that...and i might be good at it. My soulful job and my catharsis! Something that did not require me to speak, but to listen. Guide a train of thought and immerse myself in it. I’ve always felt happy by making other people happy - one can do that without launching rockets into space, right!

I’m 32, still listening to Led Zeppelin while I crunch data. I do a bunch of things now. I forgot the math around black holes. I still play chess in the afternoon...even if just a little bit. And most of all...I love listening to people!

PS: I wish I could drop here a picture of myself from back then, but this was totally unexpected and I have none :)