About Me — Shravan Subramanian
Here we go then…
If you told me to write a piece on “Game of Thrones” or “Grappling With My South Asian Heritage as a First-Gen American,” I would be able to finish it before you figure out how to pronounce my last name (that’s why I go with Subbu). Yet, when it comes to talking about myself, that becomes much more of a conundrum.
As an introvert, this topic gets me stuck. Should I talk about something that will make me look much more exciting and stand out, or should I stick to the basics and blend into the crowd?
“Leap and a net will appear” — John Burroughs
So, let me take that leap of faith on Medium.
Let’s Start With the Who
I am currently writing this as a 23-year-old still figuring out this game called Life. I am someone who is naturally independent and is more of the person who ends up touching the stove to find out it is hot. A lot of my worldview is shaped by how my parents brought me up.
I was blessed to have two parents who were willing to leave their entire lives behind for the prospect of delivering a better life for their children. My family comes from a background of poor farmers in a tiny village in Tamil Nadu, India. In this village, most parents never even considered pushing their children to pursue a college education. But my father had different aspirations, and he dared to dream beyond the fields of land that fed him.
This wasn’t just wishful thinking; he worked hard every day, studying under the soft glow of lamp posts late at night and hitched rides from passersby on bicycles to get to school. Soon enough, he earned his college degree, and fast-forward years later, he arrived in America alongside my mother with a job in hand.
Education is something that is deeply ingrained in me. The story of my father lays out this lesson:
Education is the key to breaking the cycle of limitations that often accompany immigrant backgrounds
I have always been driven to follow my curiosity and compelled to explore beyond the surface level. As a naive 18-year-old, I assumed my calling was in medicine and becoming a doctor. With this in mind, I enrolled in a 7-year B.S./D.O. medical program at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT).
But when COVID hit — everything changed.
I could write a whole piece on this career shift. To put it simply, during the pandemic I did some deep introspection. I realized that I was more interested in learning how my body works than the concept of practicing medicine itself. So, I did the unimaginable and dropped out of the medical program (much to my parents’ dislike).
I found myself embarking on the path of the unknown.
Dropping something you’ve been pursuing for over 8 years is not easy. But a spark ignited within me.
I rediscovered a dormant interest of mine — law.
I always harbored a deep fascination with the field, with how the different facets of laws shape the very fabric of our society. The more I investigated the legal sphere, the more encapsulated I became by its complexities and significant impact on individuals and the community alike.
I knew what I had to do.
I began taking up roles as a legal assistant. I explored various fields within law, such as criminal law, immigration law, and cannabis law, to get a feel for my future.
I now stand at the precipice of something great in my career. I await the start of a new chapter as I embark on my journey to law school in the coming months.
Next with the Why
I am here because I was laid off unexpectedly at the start of the year.
A decision I had no say over, but it took a considerable toll on me since it was understood that I’d maintain my role until the start of law school. I was told that the law firm was shifting in a different direction, with my role becoming obsolete. There was little work that I could actually do without prior law school experience.
It was a tough break for me. Why should I be punished not for my lack of ability but for my lack of credentials?
During my termination meeting, my boss told me one thing that did end up sticking with me:
“You might not see it now, but this decision is the best thing for you.”
She was right. I did not want to see it then, but I see it now. I could have just spent these next six months indulging in ice cream and countless Netflix binges (believe me I was tempted). Or, I could advance myself and grow as an individual.
I chose the latter decision, which brought me onto Medium.
I always had a natural knack for writing. These were the school assignments I enjoyed the most compared to my peers, who would dread every essay, lab report, or discussion post.
I would say I enter into a flow state while writing with little to no friction after getting over the roadblock of starting. Some would say writing is my “passion” (although I’m not a massive fan of the term).
Around this time, YouTube decided to read my mind and recommend a Hudson Rennie video about this platform. In the video, Hudson explained the limitless potential of Medium. It pushed me to take that step to put myself out there and write online.
Writing holds the power to convey my thoughts effortlessly from my mind to yours
And Lastly the What
There are many topics I can write about, and I don’t want to end up bottlenecking myself into any specific niche. I do plan to write on topics that are core to me, such as health & mindfulness, South Asian culture, law, and my personal experiences. When any idea comes to me, I will take the opportunity to write about it.
I am also strongly opinionated, so I could see myself reviewing books, podcasts, movies, restaurants, and anything and everything I had thoughts on.
I also want to share my thoughts on any new rabbit holes I dive into. Currently, I am fascinated with Artificial Intelligence and how our future in the Digital Age is going to be shaped by it.
This is my greeting to you, and I hope you enjoyed reading my story.
Best, Shravan Subbu
