Hi 👋, Shubham here.
Starting this month several students are going abroad for higher studies, including those who deferred their admissions due to the pandemic.
This edition of the newsletter is dedicated to them✌
Routine Update
While publishing the previous newsletter I made a mistake due to which some subscribers didn’t receive a mail 😔. I hope you guys can forgive me.
Readers loved, “Want a Reality Check?” analysis. A couple of them inquired how I came up with it. There is an interesting story behind it and I'd love to tell you all about it someday.
The open rate for the previous newsletter was only 44%, I guess that’s a demerit of sending a newsletter on a weekday.
The subscriber count has shot up from 70 to 91, thanks to a friend who is asking people to sign up to support💁♂️ my “career”. He convinced them that I quit my job to pursue writing😂 (Reminds me of the time how freshers are duped into signing for college clubs😬).
To all such subscribers, you should revaluate your befriending strategy.
Plus, I am doing okay in life, and writing is more of a hobby. The aim of starting Soul Letter is to bring forth small nuggets of joy to the readers.
Mom Will Be Mom
One of my friends is due to leave for the US next week.
I asked him how his preparations were going?
He said that his mom had packed everything. Literally everything :)
He himself doesn’t have spare clothes to make it till next week 😂
Gosh! why do our moms overdo every time 😅. It goes from enamoring to irritating in an instant.
Still, you got to admire their dedication.
To all the mothers reading this, we know you love us, but please put a check on your brimming adoration. I guess I am saying this on behalf of every Indian kid 😁
It’s Scary and We Know It
I remember the time I moved to Bangalore to pursue engineering.
Leaving the comfort of home, to move to a new city.
Living in the hostel with complete strangers, sharing common bathrooms, eating questionable mess food, washing my own clothes, managing expenses, and of course the academics.
It was intimidating😶
Although everything turned out to be fine in the end.
We can only imagine what students might be feeling.
Most of them might have taken a student loan. They are moving to a completely new country. There will be constant pressure to get a job or internship asap. Food will be a big concern for some. And whatnot.
It’s like walking into a new life.
To all students, don’t get overwhelmed. (Easier said than done🙄)
Try to give your best, and the universe will take care of the rest.
The Swades Effect 🍿
Swades is a classic movie (stating the obvious), and the only thing that can top watching Swades is watching Swades overseas.
To all the outgoing students, I envy you 😤
But be wary. It can ignite deep-rooted patriotism which we ourselves don’t know exists.
You might wanna abandon everything to move to back to India.
Whenever you land in any such conundrum💭, think about the student loan💵 you have to repay.
PS: While reading this did you hear the Swades’s theme song in the background 🎵(pe pe pe peeeee) or it’s just me?
Olympics Update
Indian women's hockey team lost the bronze medal match to the defending champions Great Britain. The final scoreline was 4-3, which was a massive improvement considering GBR defeated India 4-1 in the group stage. They didn't end up with a medal but gained a billion admirers 🤗.
Indian men's hockey 🏑 team broke the 41-year medal jinx, by winning the bronze medal, defeating Germany by 5-4 in a thrilling encounter. They remain the most successful men's hockey team in the history of the Olympics with 12 medals (8 golds, 1 silver, 3 bronzes).
Ravi Dahiya won a silver medal 🥈 in the wrestling 57kg category but admitted it'll not give him satisfaction.
Lovlina Borgohain ended with a bronze 🥉 medal in Women's welterweight.
Quote Time
Friendship, companionship: it so often defied logic, so often eluded the deserving, so often settled itself on the odd, the bad, the peculiar, the damaged.
- A Little Life
Garyvee’s Wisdom😇
Video Recommendation
Here is a 20-minute short movie called The Neighbor’s Window.
It won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2020.
Final Words
In India, there is a continuous rise💹 in Covid cases since the last few days. Probably this is the onset of the feared third wave. Everyone, please be careful and follow the instructed guidelines.
Best of luck🤞, to everyone going abroad for higher studies. I hope Soul Letter🗞 acts as an antidote whenever you feel homesick.
Some students have taken admission abroad but are stuck with online classes due to the Covid lockdown. We feel for you guys😏.
Have a solid weekend! 😋, until next time, Houdoe!
In case you missed the previous newsletter, check it out.
PS: If anything from today’s letter resonated with you, and you would like to share your views, mail me at shubhampcvn@gmail.com. I might include it in the upcoming letter.