If you ask any Chicagoan for the direction to Soldier Field, then the chances that you will end up at a stadium where the Chicago Bears, a NFL team, play are 10 on 10. Such is the passion that these Chicagoans have for their NFL team. But if you ask the same Chicagoan for the direction to Soldiers Field Road, the chances that you will end up in Boston, MA are 10 on 10, too. Such is the aura and charisma of one of the world famous establishments - Harvard University - this road has nurtured for over a century.
Nestling on the bank of Charles River, Harvard Business School, one of the faculties of Harvard University, has been a dream for thousands and a reality for few hundreds. Each year, tens of thousands, from across the world, aspire to make 60 Harvard Way their official address.But only few succeed in doing so.
I too dreamt of the eerie reality of studying in Harvard. But it was just a day dream. Never in my life did i think that i will be walking on the very lawn on which some of the best business minds in the world, including George Walker Bush and Palaniappan Chidambaram, had previously walked. I parked my car 2 miles away from HBS on Memorial Drive and decided to walk towards HBS. As i walked along the bank of Charles River, I could only but wonder at the diversity of people - Chinese to Japanese, Indians to Africans, Scandinavians to East Europeans and last but not the least, Americans - that i came across. Some were reading a book, some were romancing the day out, some were ambling aimlessly, just like me, some were biking, and some were jogging.
Just as i started to wonder whether i lost my way, I saw a girl walking past me from the left side in a crimson colored sweat shirt, on which were printed the words HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL. Yes, Crimson is the official color of Harvard University. I am not sure who recommended this color, but whoever did so, did the right thing.Crimson - the color of blood, the color of virility, the color of aggression, the color of boldness. I guessed that HBS had to be in the direction from which the girl walked past me.Banking on my intellect, i took a left on N Harvard Street and walked across the Charles River. Two minutes later, much to my bewilderment, i was standing in front of a name plate, approx 10 feet long by 3 feet wide, that had the following words printed - HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL.
Yes, I was bewildered, may be, rightly so.Such a big school, yet so humble in its expressiveness. Vanity is, certainly, not this school's favourite sin. I stepped inside and the first thing that i saw was two guys, may be scholars, may be future heads of state of a nation, may be future heads of a company, may be future entrepreneurs of a billion dollar conglomerate, playing Tennis. Good god, HBS students are not all that studious. They do have some life, I thought.
As i kept walking along the breadths and lengths of HBS, i could feel the scholarly sanctum that this school's environment provided. Lush green lawns, Red brick walled buildings and the breath of fresh air seem to fit in perfectly for one true conducive environment;an environment that nurtures and nourishes tomorrow's best business minds.
Lost in thought, I kept walking and finally arrived in front of the Baker Library.The magnificent facade spoke for HBS's might. Inside the library, one can find some of the best case studies that kindle the thought process of tomorrow's business minds. I took a stroll inside the library.As i was perusing the exhibits(Publications), i came across one, which was titled - BORN LOSERS. I smiled and reflected upon self.I stepped outside the library, ambling across the Harvard Yard, sat on a small wall in front on the magnificent Gothic structure. I asked my inner self - "Did you lose your chance of getting into HBS". My inner self answered -"Yes". I guilt fully acknowledged and decided to get back to my car,which was parked 2 miles away from HBS.
Just as i was about to take my final step out from HBS contour, i turned back, looked at Baker Library, took a deep breath and told my inner self - "Nah, May be not"!!!
