Expert Insights: How can students and young professionals abroad manage this pandemic?
Taking the reins of your life — turning the adversity of Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic into opportunities
Very recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and urged to turn the Coronavirus adversity into opportunity — “Aapda ko Avasar me badalna hai.” This message was also received by India’s youth residing beyond the seven seas in America. For many Indians students and young professionals in America, the pandemic has seemingly created a dire situation. It is natural for them to feel depressed. Even a great warrior like Arjun suffered from “vishaad bhaav” (depression) on the battlefield. Being away from family, the tremendous pressure of student loans, inability to concentrate, a grim job situation, etc. can unsettle the best of the best.
This article is co-authored with Thanajirao Thakkalapelli, who works for Intel Corporation. He has been actively involved with student activities in the US. He was the President of Intel India Employee Resource Group in Oregon. His insights would be highly valuable for the readers. This article is written from our personal experiences of having lived in the US. However, students and young professionals in other countries too would be able to relate.
Related article: Expert Insights: Uncertain future of postgraduate studies in the US
Here are few suggestions for turning this adversity into opportunities:
Need a positive diversion:
What you subject yourself to reading, watching, and hearing is in your control. You need a diversion from all negativity. To this end, keep yourself away from opinions that feed into your negative state of mind. Here are a few suggestions:
- It is natural to feel the urge to get updates about Coronavirus. Instead of checking the news 24/7, spend time understanding the biology and other scientific aspects of Coronavirus. You would add to a great deal to your knowledge.
- Reading/watching stories of achievers is an excellent way to motivate yourself. For example, the ‘Pumping Iron’ and ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ documentaries on Netflix.
- Exercise daily — it releases endorphins in your body that make you feel positive and happy. A simple Surya Namaskar routine keeps you healthy physically and mentally. Many exercise routines can be done from the confines of your home/room without any need for equipment.
- Cook and eat right — make yourself aware of the nutrition details of different food items and consciously incorporate them into your menu. Indian homemade vegetarian food is a great source of a variety of nutrition.
- Organize your clutter — online documents, photos, etc. are the new garbage. Also, scan your important documents and keep them organized on reliable online platforms like Dropbox, Google Drive etc.
Reach out to people who can mentor you:
It must always be remembered that there are people who would love to see you succeed. Thus, there should be no stigma is reaching out to your well-wishers. Reach out to people who can share their wisdom with you. Being happy and energetic is largely a matter of the right perspective. Having a mentor always helps you understand situations better.
Mentors can make you aware of the blind-spots and obscure opportunities. Some might be able to provide domain-specific expert advice. Also, think of people who can train you in certain skills. There are student groups like the Indian Student Association, Hindu YUVA, etc. whose alumni typically have a selfless mindset.
Managing finances in difficult times:
Some students might no more have a part-time job and young professionals could have been laid off. A simple way to manage expenses is by setting a daily upper limit. During my Ph.D. days, I kept track of my daily and monthly food expenses using a spreadsheet. It helped me stay under budget. A great way to reduce expenses is to adopt a minimalist lifestyle. Suggestions aplenty are available online to this end. Reach out to somebody whom you know is a practitioner.
Every town in the US has stores where certain grocery items are cheaper than the rest. Check out for utilities at a Dollar Tree kind of store. If you are a coffee connoisseur, making your own instead of a daily trip to Starbucks will help save around $70-$100 every month. Share your working solutions with friends. Grow yourself by helping others.
Your close family/friends could help you with a temporary place to stay. Don’t be shy to seek help. Also, don’t burn any bridges if your set expectations are not met. Even the best of your friends might have a genuine limitation/challenge.
What might bring you a job opportunity?
First and foremost, exercise to stay healthy — physically and mentally. A negative mindset can ruin an interview. Some ideas to this end are shared at the beginning. Here are a few other suggestions:
- Seek expert advice: Your friends can help with resume critique and mock interviews. Have no inhibitions to request their time to this end. Treat mock interviews as real ones. Prepare multiple resumes that emphasize your diverse expertise and achievements.
- Online networking: Reach out to your friends and acquaintances using LinkedIn. Many companies are still hiring. The job market is not as bleak as you might have assumed. Update and organize your LinkedIn profile. To this end, suggestions aplenty are available online. Go beyond your usual circle of friends. Connect with hiring professionals from different companies. Seek recommendations from your colleagues, managers, or professors on LinkedIn. Another social platform to explore to this end is Facebook Groups.
- Boost your skills: This is the most overstated and also the most useful option. The purpose of boosting skills should not be to merely gather certifications. Given that many are doing the same, the real thing that will set your apart is putting your training to practice. Create your own projects. Also, seek out friends who can work on collaborative projects. Look for non-profits who might have unpaid internship opportunities.
There are never enough pointers one can give from their personal experience. However, this is a humble contribution by Thanajirao and me to help students and young professionals in the US find the right perspective in these times. Below are links to our LinkedIn profiles. Feel free to connect :)
Stay Healthy. Stay Safe. Be Patient. Life has something great in store for you!
Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
Thanajirao: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thanajirao/
