Be the best or be the worst but get noticed.
Be the best or be the worst but get noticed
The first time I heard those words, I was confused. Be the best? Sure! Everyone wants to be their best. Be the worst? I’d never heard of anything like that before. So, I asked for an explanation. No, I demanded an explanation.
My adviser smiled.“How many students are there in the Alliance Française, Madras?”he asked me.
At that time, I was doing the beginner’s level in French. If you remember, during the interview with Nikhil Raghavan from ‘The Hindu’, I’d mentioned how I used to bunk French classes in college as I was terrified of my professor. Well, after that, I felt challenged and wanted to learn the language…no, I wanted to master the language.
“I don’t know, maybe 5000?”
“How good are you in French?”
I dug into my bag and drew out my first dictée (dictation) where I’d scored a cool 9¾/10. My professor, Rinku Gupta, had commented ‘Excellent’.
My adviser wasn’t that impressed. “Would you be able to carry this score all through your course?”
“I can try.”
“And the courses to follow?”
“That would be tough…but I’ll give it my best shot.”
And that’s when Mr Anbu said, “Be the best or be the worst but get noticed.”
He explained that there were too many students out there wanting the same thing. They were probably better students than me. They didn’t have to work as hard as I did, they might be talented students. They had resources to get any materials they needed to facilitate their studies. He pointed out that I didn’t have that luxury. So how was I going to get noticed among 5000 students?
I looked at him with serious eyes. “I won’t be my worst, Mr Anbu. But you are right. I’ll find a way to get noticed.”
And I did.
I don’t know if my professors would remember me as a student, but I tortured their lives. I’d ask a thousand questions. I’d do more homework than was required. Before I’d even completed my beginner’s level, I was questioning my professors about mastering the language. Fortunately, they didn’t laugh at me. I remember Mme Srilatha taking me to the library and helping me choose books to read. She’d suggested ‘J’aime lire’.
The moment I’d see a French person entering the gates of Alliance Française, I’d run up to him/her and start a conversation in French, asking if I could assist them. And I’d listen to them speak. I wouldn’t understand half of what they said, but my enthusiasm would make up for the loss. If there was an interpreter needed, I’d make sure I was on that list even if I was terrified. If there was a competition I’d participate, never mind if I wasn’t the best choice, I’d be so excited that it would fuel me with enough adrenaline to carry it through.
I’ll admit that it was a long, challenging and frightening journey, but the satisfaction one gets when they reach their goal makes up for every hardship.
Be the best or be the worst but get noticed.
The French Encounter
The first time I heard those words, I was confused. Be the best? Sure! Everyone wants to be their best. Be the worst? I’d never heard of anything like that before. So, I asked for an explanation. No, I demanded an explanation.
My adviser smiled.“How many students are there in the Alliance Française, Madras?”he asked me.
At that time, I was doing the beginner’s level in French. If you remember, during the interview with Nikhil Raghavan from ‘The Hindu’, I’d mentioned how I used to bunk French classes in college as I was terrified of my professor. Well, after that, I felt challenged and wanted to learn the language…no, I wanted to master the language.
“I don’t know, maybe 5000?”
“How good are you in French?”
I dug into my bag and drew out my first dictée (dictation) where I’d scored a cool 9¾/10. My professor, Rinku Gupta, had commented ‘Excellent’.
My adviser wasn’t that impressed. “Would you be able to carry this score all through your course?”
“I can try.”
“And the courses to follow?”
“That would be tough…but I’ll give it my best shot.”
And that’s when Mr Anbu said, “Be the best or be the worst but get noticed.”
He explained that there were too many students out there wanting the same thing. They were probably better students than me. They didn’t have to work as hard as I did, they might be talented students. They had resources to get any materials they needed to facilitate their studies. He pointed out that I didn’t have that luxury. So how was I going to get noticed among 5000 students?
I looked at him with serious eyes. “I won’t be my worst, Mr Anbu. But you are right. I’ll find a way to get noticed.”
And I did.
I don’t know if my professors would remember me as a student, but I tortured their lives. I’d ask a thousand questions. I’d do more homework than was required. Before I’d even completed my beginner’s level, I was questioning my professors about mastering the language. Fortunately, they didn’t laugh at me. I remember Mme Srilatha taking me to the library and helping me choose books to read. She’d suggested ‘J’aime lire’.
The moment I’d see a French person entering the gates of Alliance Française, I’d run up to him/her and start a conversation in French, asking if I could assist them. And I’d listen to them speak. I wouldn’t understand half of what they said, but my enthusiasm would make up for the loss. If there was an interpreter needed, I’d make sure I was on that list even if I was terrified. If there was a competition I’d participate, never mind if I wasn’t the best choice, I’d be so excited that it would fuel me with enough adrenaline to carry it through.
I’ll admit that it was a long, challenging and frightening journey, but the satisfaction one gets when they reach their goal makes up for every hardship.
Be the best or be the worst but get noticed.
The French Encounter
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