The Road Ahead - Tackling College Admissions ല ോക ലകരള സഭ A Selfie അധികാരി Children’s Corner Prayers സംഘടന റിꥍപാർട്ട് Artists Corner KANJanam eQuarterly Volume 1 Issue 1 Reach us @ [email protected] Know us @ www.kantn.org Like and Follow us @ https://www.facebook.com/KANTNUSA/ A Kerala Association of Nashville Publication April 2018 കാഞ്ചനം ത്രൈമാസിക | KANJanam eQuarterly Volume 1 | Issue 1 Artists corner Sandhya Hariharan Sh Aa About Artist: A house wife who enjoys different forms of art like sketching, painting, singing, dancing etc. 1 കാഞ്ചനം ത്രൈമാസിക | KANJanam eQuarterly Volume 1 | Issue 1 President’s Message KANJanam ഒരു നാഴികക്കല്ല ് Sandhya Hariharan Biju Joseph On this 10th Year Anniversary of KAN, we ശങ്കർ മന the members of 'The KAN Family', proudly Spring brings with it the promise of new ഒരു 啂ട്ടായ്മ സംഘടനായു啁മ്പാൾ അതിന്്‌ present our very first E-Quarterly life and vigor. In this spring of 2018, we 啂ടു തൽ ജനാധിപതയ സവഭാവം magazine. We bring to you articles behold the 10-year-old KAN tree – robust ത്രകവരുന്നു. അതാണ്്‌ 啃തയമായി ranging from Art to Poetry, Reel Short and blooming. Under the care of efficient പറഞ്ഞാൽ നാഷ്്‌വില്ലിലല് മല്യാളി Stories to Real Life Scenarios, Health Tips leaders, it has flourished and become 啂ട്ടായ്മക്ക് ഒരു ദശവർഷം മപ് to Jokes, you name it and we have it. ു what it is. This year as our KAN family സംഭവിച്ചത് . സംഘടനയുണ്ടാ啁ന്നത് grows, we would like to introduce our ലകാണ്ട് മുന്ന് പതിറ്റാണ്ടിലെ പഴയ KAN e-quarterly newsletter-KANJanam. As an Editor, this is my very first effort, at being a part of such a wonderful creation. 啂ട്ടായ്മയുലട ചരിൈം ഇല്ലാതാ啁ന്നില്ല . As the name goes, it's all about KAN പലെ സംഘടനയുലട പത്തു വർഷലെ Janam, the KAN people. Then again as the It sure has been fun all the way and it does ചരിൈം, പൂ ർണണ ത മരീചികയാലണങ്കില്ും, meaning of the word says, as translated in not stop at that alone. We at the Editorial പൂ ർണണ തയിമ്ല്ള്ള പ്രയാണെിൽ ഒരു Malayalam, gold! board look forward to many more നാഴികക്കാല്ലാണ്്‌. ആ നാഴികക്കല്ലിലെ contributions from each and every one of ആരംഭെിൽ തലന്ന അമ്സാസിമ്യഷന്്‌ This is a platform for our members to you KAN Member(s), because it is you ഒരു പ്രസിദ്ധീകരണം ആരംഭിക്കാൻ showcase their literary talents in the form who make this E-Quarterly Magazine കഴിഞ്ഞു എന്നുള്ളത് അഭിമാനാർഹമാണ്്‌. of poems, prose, riddles, cartoons etc. what it is. ഈ സംരംഭെിന്്‌ സഹായം നൽകിയ The written word exerts its power differently than the spoken word, for the I remember - 'A teacher of mine once told എല്ല ാവമ്രാടു ം നിസസ ീമമായ നന്ദി written word speaks to you again and me that change is the only constant in പ്രകാശിപ്പികയും ഇനിയമ്ങാട്ട് again. It could force people to think, it has life.' സഹകരണം ഉണ്ടാകണലമന്ന് in it the capability to transform lives. അഭയർത്ഥികയും ലചയ്യു ന്നു. Artistic expression soothes the writer and That’s certainly true for the entire heals the reader. editorial team here, since we have spent the last couple of months working As we reside here in the US, our minds tirelessly to bring about this E-Quarterly and memories make frequent trips back just for you. Hope you all like it and we home to our land close to our heart- appreciate all your efforts in making this a Kerala. KAN began and still stands for a success. Editorial Board gathering of such people. Chief Editor KANJanam offers you the opportunity to cross over the boundaries set by humans Biju Joseph to reach humanity by your literary works. What we contribute will uplift, educate Associate Editors and motivate another person. Let us join Sandhya Hariharan to contribute in our new venture Sankar Mana KANJanam. It would grow to include information about KAN activities, KAN Editorial Board Members outreach, KCCN updates, KAN women’s Ashokan Vattakkattil forum and KAN youth forum events. Babloo Chacko I would like to take time to recognize and thank my editorial team’s hard work Newsletter Design behind this endeavor. Anilkumar Gopalakrishnan Wishing everyone a great summer! Cover Photo Sreedhar Vaidya 2 കാഞ്ചനം ത്രൈമാസിക | KANJanam eQuarterly Volume 1 | Issue 1 The Road Ahead – Tackling College people enriched by the ingenuity, creativity, Personal interest vs ability- don’t make the and community provided in a scholarly Admissions mistake of choosing a job solely because it environment. We’ve held their hand and appears interesting, but also remember pushed them along as teens, but now they that the career path will be a regrettable should take the first steps towards the future they want to build. It’s important to keep an decision if there is a complete lack of open mind during this process. While it’s all interest in it. Dr. Suseela Somarajan good and well to have high ambitions, we must With an idea of what you want to pursue in take into consideration that our children are mind, begin to think about what majors can The college admission process is a stressful and born and raised in the US, unlike us. They have help you reach that goal. Research which sometimes bewildering experience. their own worldly perspectives, which tend to undergraduate majors fit your career path the Overwhelmed with decisions about how to clash with ours. This is simply a byproduct of most by looking online or talking to a high select undergraduate universities, majors, and the diversified society they live in. There will school guidance counselor. Remember to also scholarships, families can be worried about how be disagreements & disappointments examine which subjects fit your talents and to best approach college applications. Initially, I throughout this process, but it is critical that interests. was also skeptical about how I would undertake parents do their role as advisees and children the hefty financial burden of higher education take this advice to heart. There are plenty of If you are unsure about what profession or in the United States. For most of us middle class workshops, books and professional major to pursue, remain assured that you don’t immigrants, paying the thousands of dollars organizations out there to make sure you need to have a final decision now. Many required to send one child to college is not an make the correct choices on this journey. colleges have curriculums that allow you to easy task. Swamped by the financial decisions However, take a positive approach to cultivate explore different interests so that you can and the academic choices, many of us make the this opportunity and stay on track. decide on what path fits you best, without blindsided decision by forfeiting a good rushing into it at a young age. If you have education for the sake of financial security. My multiple interests, consider double majoring or approach changed after hearing the mind- minoring in those topics. boggling narration of the college admissions process at an eye-opening Tennessee State University (TSU) workshop. During this experience, I met the recipient of over $250,000 in scholarships, a young girl from a low socioeconomic background and just as much hope as the rest of us. Her story resonated with mine and many other Indian families. However, rather than the bleak perspective I saw in front of me, she had learned to make the best of her circumstances and build the skills to defeat her setbacks. From this workshop, this seemingly tedious process turned into a fruitful investment for the future of my children. I took the skills I gained there and applied it to my children’s college experiences. Having watched my two daughters grow up and go off to university, here are some helpful tips as you and your children undertake this next goal. Anagha Ashokan (John Hopkins University) Indian Panorama Here are the top 5 things one must consider Priya Sankaran (University of Miami, FL) Recall those childhood days of chasing the bus while discussing career paths with young adults. after tuition classes, listening to your parents Undergraduate Education: India versus USA drill you on the merits of medical and Note - These are general guidelines & you’ll engineering fields, and being compared to the need to evaluate them based on your individual The Indian community tends to view the neighbors’ and relatives’ kids. Through the situations. academic mission through a black and white impacts in your life, you may have been pushed lens. All too often, parents (including myself) into a profession where you lack motivation and Job prospects and/or entrepreneurship boast about their college background and enthusiasm. For the rest of your life, you ended Salary (See market salary survey in careers to their children. For us, only the highest up having to continue pursuing a profession you scores succeed. Everyone else is left behind to don’t even enjoy, increasing your job stress and glassdoor.com, monster.com and other pick up the pieces. Higher education in the decreasing your workplace morale. job sites) United States works on a completely different platform than what we’ve seen in India. Most With that in mind, encourage your child to Balance between job and family college advisors will tell you right off the bat consider their future options. What are their Industry culture and sustainability that your scores are worth little during the personal and professional goals in life? College application process if you do not remain equally should be the place where they develop into competitive in extracurricular activities.