I dreamed a dream

Following on from my last post, I thought I'll write about my experience post the GMAT results.

Under-rating myself comes very naturally to me. Post a decent GMAT score, I thought I had a reasonable chance to get a foot in the door, if not more, with some elite/ultra elite colleges. And whilst I fiddled with that thought, at the back of my mind I was backing myself to be in one of the mid-tier colleges. Getting placed in anything renowned was dreaming a dream, something extremely out of place for my very ordinary education so far (I completed my graduation in Computer Sciences, studying a course which was unfortunately scrapped off after my batch. Even more unfortunate was the fact that ours was just the first batch! This graduation was sandwiched between schooling in decent schools that were no way 'best in class' and a post graduation through distance learning. So you know, nothing spectacular). Yet, I dreamed.

I'll readily agree that I do present a bit of a paradox. While I'll peg myself and prepare for moderation, alongside I'll continue to dream. Dream about a perfect world. Dream about success beyond imagination. Success beyond definition.

It was around one such dreams after getting my GMAT scores that I discovered that a friend of mine had gotten through Oxford's SBS for the MBA program there. I was catching up with him in person and was so simply overjoyed at his success that I can remember only two pieces of data from that moment. I remember the feeling of blood rushing through my heart and mind on hearing the news. Secondly, I remember the look on my friend's face on seeing how I reacted to his news. I was crazily happy and proud of his achievement. I now knew someone who'll be studying at Oxford. Oxford.

And so after some time as the dust settled, I continued to dream. I used my time well and gave my best shot in applications to a mix of colleges. Some middle of the pack (stuff that I was comfortablte with and backed myself to get it) and some dream colleges (Oxford, was one of them:))

Mansi and I proof read my applications so many times that near the time I submitted my application we'd get a sick feeling when reading the same passages over and over again. Yet, all seemed worth the effort when I got an interview call from Oxford. A call! Could the dream come true? Intense preps for the interview ensued. I was tense but confident and think I handled the meeting well. After the interview I was cautiosly optimistic.
The deadline for the results drew closer. And to say that I waited with abated breath won't be completely wrong. Then the eventful night came. As usual I was stuck to my blackberry and thought I'll check my emails before going to bed. As I refreshed my mailbox, I saw the note. I was offered a place in Oxford! Holy smoke!! The unreal was now real. I jumped with joy, hugged Mansi and held on forever. Shared the news with my parents and took their blessings too. I don't think I slept that night.

The news would sink in over the next few days as I'd realise that this was real. I would go on to accept the offered place and start prepping for my sojourn at Oxford. But that will be another dream. For now, I choose to bask in the glory of the moment. I dreamed a dream thats come alive. My head is a bit fuzzy with joy and pride. And here I promise to dream another dream.