My first live basketball game

On March 9, 2023, I attended my first live basketball game at Madison Square Garden Arena in NY city. It was a Big East men's basketball tournament quarterfinal between the two arch-rivals, UConn and Providence. I prefer to watch games in the comfort of my home on my TV screen. I attended some college football or gymnastic tournaments in New Haven and attended some tennis matches when CT Open was a thing, but nothing like a basketball match where there is a highly charged environment on and off the court. This was very unlikely for me to attend this game on a working day, but I am glad that I did it, this was one of the best experiences in my life.

It was my daughter's idea that I should go to this game. She insisted that as I like basketball and UConn is playing, I should go and watch this game with my son who is studying at UConn and is one of the top fans of both UConn basketball teams. I decided to give it a shot to this proposal. I bought a train around noon and reached Grand Central around 2pm. I met my son a few blocks away from the Grand Central Terminal and we both walked to the Madison Square Garden arena. The atmosphere there was electric, it was a full house with more than nineteen thousand people in the arena. Fans of both teams were supercharged and singing songs or chanting slogans in support of their respective teams. I sat with UConn supporters. Some students came with face paint and costumes matching their team's jersey. They asked if I wanted some paint on my face, so I went ahead and got my face painted. The game did live up to its expectations. I was one-sided at the beginning with UConn leading by 25 points at one point, but in the last ten minutes, it got really tense. The lead was cut down to 5 with some amazing defense and flawless scoring NY the Providence team. UConn managed to hold on to their lead to win the game with a 73-66 final score. I enjoyed the thrill, ups and downs, and other aspects of the game. In the entire game, there was no dull moment. Even during the breaks and halftime, there was some entertainment either on the court or among the audience that was showcased on the big screens of the arena. Fans added extra flavor and color to that electrifying atmosphere. UConn winning the game made this an unforgettable experience for me. Sitting with the students was extra special, their enthusiasm and energy was infectious. We were standing most of the game, and for the last five minutes or so the entire stadium was on its feet. Watching the game along with my son made it extra special, I could witness his joy and involvement in enjoying the game and supporting his university team. College sports are very special in the USA. Many college teams have a huge and very loyal fan following. Witnessing all this is an enthralling experience. I would still prefer to watch games on my TV as I really get anxious when games get really close, in your home, you can choose to mute the volume or switch off the TV and follow the score on the internet and rejoin whenever you want, but in the stadium, you don't have that option. However, if you are a sports fan, I would advise you to go and watch a live game in the stadium at least once to experience the magic of a sports arena full of passionate sports fans. Sports teach us to compete intensely while the game is on, but once it ends shake hands and move on to the next game. Go and enjoy that experience at least once, I didn't regret it and I am sure you also won't regret it.

Thank you for reading and please share your views on this topic. 

©Vinay Thakur,  Vinay can be reached at thevinay2022@gmail.com  

My amazing journey to finish the law school

Some journeys leave an everlasting impact on our minds. These journeys might be full of uncertainties, hardships, occasional anxiety and frustration, and a lot of hard work, but overall, they are rewarding experiences. My law school journey is one such journey. I started this journey back in August 2020 with many uncertainties and doubts. I did not know if I would be able to finish it, how hard it would be, and many other concerns. It was a risky move, some people even warned me against it, they cited some examples who tried this and failed or quit, but I was ready to take the risk. I am glad that I did. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. Not only my friends and family but UConn Law School and its support staff, my professors, and my classmates also made this experience very special. I enjoyed every bit of it. I am not sad that I will be leaving the law school as it was supposed to be a four-year course. Every good thing is supposed to end, but the happiness and knowledge that I acquired will remain with me forever. Every experience teaches us something, it becomes a part of us, and shapes our personality and thinking. No doubt, this experience is one of those experiences which transformed me inside out.

Many times, we have a dream and also the desire to pursue that dream, but we postpone our efforts or put them on hold for many reasons. Some of the most common reasons are our familial responsibilities, monetary restrictions, personal doubts or lack of confidence, or a fear of what people will say if I fail. I also had some of these concerns. I fell in love with American educational institutions way back when I started working as a postdoc at Rutgers University. The kind of experience these institutions try to provide to their students is unmatched, there are very few places in the world that are so diverse and welcoming for students all over the world. I had a dream to attend an American college or university, but the problem was I already came to the USA after finishing my formal education. Also, I did not want to get enrolled in any online degree or a short certification course, not because I do not value them or consider them any inferior, but because these things would not have provided me with complete university experience, especially on-campus university life.

I came to the US as a postdoc after finishing my Ph.D. in organic chemistry, so it was tough to justify going back to college to pursue another degree. But my dream to attend an American university remained with me, and I was searching for an opportunity to fulfill it. It is always hard to deviate from a set route to do something different. It disturbs the regularity of our lives, we need to get out of our comfort zone and do something that we could avoid if we want. Also, to chase a dream, not only do you need to have a dream but you also need to have a plan to chase it, especially if you have a family to support. I decided to give it a try in 2015 while working as a research scientist in the pharma industry. I loved my job and was well settled in the drug discovery field, I thought that it was a perfect time for me to try something different. I got interested in intellectual property (IP), and my mentor and elder brother Dr. Dev Singh germinated an idea to study law with a specialization in IP in my mind. I loved that idea as it would help me to achieve my dream of attending an American university and started working towards it. I prepared for the LSAT exam and secured a score within my desired range on the first attempt. I went through the application process and got accepted in both the law schools where I applied for their part-time J.D. program, I decided to join UConn Law School in a class of 2020 J.D. program. This is how it all started, I embarked on this exciting journey in the fall of 2016.

This journey also made me realize the meaning of the proverb "It takes a village to raise a child." I could not have done this alone. Support from my friends and family was more than crucial. My wife Reena proved to be a great companion and supporter for me during this journey. She not only took on familial responsibilities but also helped me to make some important law school-related decisions. Her conviction and fearlessness were a great help to me whenever I was in doubt. My professors and classmates were other pillars of support for me. I was skeptical if I could survive the "Socratic method" of teaching in American law schools if I could manage my full-time job and rigorous law school curriculum which involves a crazy amount of reading. However, my classmates and professors offered me all the support that I needed. My professors encouraged me, they believed in my abilities, appreciated my struggle and hard work, helped me to work on my weaknesses, praised my strengths, and offered constructive criticism wherever and whenever required. My classmates were very supportive not only did they welcome me with an open heart but also offered to borrow their books and notes, welcomed me to study groups, and arranged those group sessions on time convenient to me. My friends and family, especially Dr. Dev Singh and his family encouraged me to keep on working towards my goal, they all acted as my cheerleaders. I am indebted to all these people for their contributions and efforts to help me succeed in my dream.

Monday, May 5, 2020, was the last day of my law school classes. Now, no more classes to attend, no more assignments, no pressure for exams, and no anxiety to tread through the heavy traffic after finishing my work to reach the class on time. The memories that I created during these four years are priceless. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who made my dream a reality. Yes, dreams do come true, just give it a try. 

Thanks for reading and please share your dream which came true.