Time of Calamity
Boom, project came to an end. Having worked at Endignorance.org managed to keep me employed as the Assistant Manager for the project for 7 months managing many youngsters across Colombo and suburbs. They gave a fairly good pay which a Sri Lankan undergraduate would love to work and the front cause is absolutely good. This project indeed gave me an opportunity to meet new people, develop my skills and specially made me realize who are the true friends and ones with “Sheeps with wolves cloak”. Project suddenly comes to an end and I am fasten with financial crisis which brings me down to the Earth, feeling the Apocalypse.
Searching for Light
Time of turbulence, pulling all the connections I had and trying to find a “BIG” company to work. I didn’t fear to face at interviews and I would speak a lot from my experience about a particular area if they ask for a question, for some questions I didn’t know the answer. Some of the connections gave me 110% of their effort to find a job, some didn’t walk the talk and some weren’t sincere enough. But I always present credits due to all because they at least said “Okay I will try”. Here are some of the places I went for interviews and applied.
- Millenium IT – Coordinated by Navodi Kariyawasam – HR Internship -Not Selected
- Millenium IT – Coordinated by Navodi Kariyawasam – PM Internship -Not Selected
- KDG Global – Supported by Raashid Liyaaff – Sales Manager, South Africa – Selected but didnt go- Commitment was 3 years on a row
- Etisalat – Applied by me – Billing Executive – Not Selected
- Duo Software – Coordinated by Rusiru Peiris – Junior Project Manager – Not Selected
- Duo Software – Coordinated by Rusiru Peiris – Technical Writer – Not Selected
- Bileeta – Applied by Me – Application Consultant – Selected and then rejected because my offer was high
- 99xtechnology – Applied by me – No reply
- WSO2 – Coordinated by Anushke Attanayake – Internship – No Reply
- JKCS – applied by me – No reply
- Virtusa – Coordinated by Yashodhya Wijesinghe – Associate SE – Not Selected
Going for an interview, failing. Going for an interview, failing. This made me completely loose myself. I was a performer at my University, both in academics and extra curriculum making so many marks in history. But the ones who were not performing that much were in bigger companies. This situation made me really sad and made me think where did it go wrong.
Opportunities never comes twice
It was a quite worrying day and I was addicted to Robin Sharma’s vlogs watching how to overcome the problems. I go to facebook and I see a post by Rohan Jayaweera, Google Country Consultant calling for applications for Google Student Ambassadorship 2013, Southeast Asian region. I read the description of the selection and I realize “Man, this is my time”. The application required recommendation from lecturers, to fill an online questionnaire and a 1min video about myself and plans. From inside me, my desires were burning which I could feel it because I did know this is going to be huge. I contact my lecturers, I contact my program coordinator, filled my questionnaire, wrote the script, made a video posted on the deadline – April 14th. Special thanks goes to my Dad, Mr.Chaminda Rathnayake, Mr.Chaminda Wijesinghe, Mrs Devika Weerawardane and Rohan Jayaweera for bringing this opportunity for Sri Lanka.
On the other day (April 15th) I leave to Badulla for Twinning Schools Program which is done by United Nations Development Program. I didn’t had any clue that Varuna aiya,Sandhani, Sudaraka and Sisini would arrange me a surprise bday party which happens to be my first B’day celebration without parents. There we had a core team, facilitators and we are equally crazy enough to help people. Always much love to them all for volunteering to make another persons life better. Kudos.
Meeting the Man of Steel
I come home from Badulla on 26th April. No reply from Google, No messages for an interview. Feeling drained again. This time I searched for IT companies in Sri Lanka and I send my CV to their emails. Two days later I get a call from a company called “Ridgecrest Aisa” for an interview. They are the ones who developed the Link.lk platform, Tickets.lk, Autos.lk…etc. I have a habit to Google about a company before going for an interview and I found that interview is with the CEO Mr.Sanath Fernando who is also a product of D.S.Senanayake College made me feel content because that too is my alma mater.
I go for the interview, late. Mr.Sanath says Shafraz that’s something you should improve to work on time and to inform prior if any emergency with a smile. Interview goes really well and I come back home thinking why this man didn’t scold at me. Mr.Sanath happens to be a Director at SLAASCOM, founder of Ridgecrest Aisa, part of Venture Engine and the 2013 Venture Engine Winner. and Now I call him as Man of Steel.
Best Day in Years 😀
I get a call from Ridgecrest Asia for a second interview and now I am like wow. Its 13th of May, I go to the interview reading the book “Leadership Wisdom” which I got from Manuri Ranasinghe, a person whom I always respect. Interview had 3 phases, 1st with a Project Manager and a Senior QA engineer, 2nd with Staff and 3rd with Mr.Sanath again. To be honest, they are the best staff I have ever met in an interview. SIMPLY the Best. Between the 2nd and 3rd interview they invited me for lunch where everyone sits together and eat. Even the CEO sits on a small bench and eat with the coworkers which is amazing. After the 3rd interview Mr.Sanath explained me what they will be expecting from me and promised me to call back on the other day after discussing with his staff.
I was really happy and I came out of the office with much content.
I started heading towards NSBM because I had promised some of my friends to help on their project.
On my way there I checked my mail and it had a mail from a person called NeeKhen subjected as “Did You made as a GSA”. I was like whats this all about then I opened it and I couldn’t imagine what it read.
Shafraz Rahim,
Congratulations. You are a Google Student Ambassador
I felt like crying and screaming inside the bus. I take my phone, and call my mother and say the news making her happy for her child. Its a simple moment which could wash away ever pain you had.
Missing a Great Place to Work
As promised, Mr.Sanath Calls me and say they are willing to hire me and the only problem they had was my interaction with extra curriculum work but they believed I will manage it accordingly.
But I had to refuse the opportunity by explaining what I have achieved and without being unfair to them at work.
I have a great respect to them all because them all treated me very well, that’s something most places forgets.
Always you need Good Friends
Power of Association it always really matters. My mother was always there to support me, encourage me no matter what she believed I am capable of achieving big. My aunts always had the grip holding me not letting me down when I am in need. You need people like Manuri, Rusiru to showcase what friendship really means and push you back to the track. You need people like Dilakshi to talk what ever comes to mouth but trying to help always. You always need people like Fadhil aiya, Varuna aiya, Muradh bhai and Hamada Kaka to hold your back.
You always need to be surrounded by people who are willing to help another person without any agenda and just for the sake of being human. People don’t ask for a help for fun, they ask for a help when they are in need.
Miracles do happen but come from hard work
At the first half of the GSA program I managed to become the 6th best Google Student Ambassador in Southeast Asian region and that was the very first time a Sri Lankan came into top 10 Google Student Ambassador’s. Felt really awesome and happy because to gain that position I have made a considerable amount of work while being in the 3rd year at Campus. Finally being a top GSA managed to get me a job at Dialog Axiata.
Final Thoughts
Life is too short to play small. Sometimes because of our difficulties we tend to bow our knees and heads for money and people because they have the power. Sometimes when even people have money they do not want to help people because they care about the ROI but not the humane factor.
When you found your passionate cause, you don’t want to sleep, you don’t want to eat and everything else is just useless for you. You will feel a burn inside your tummy coming across whole body till your brain. Viola, that’s your passion all green lights for you. and that’s how I felt when I was applying for Google Student Ambassadorship.
Do not sell your dreams for money
Do not sell your Passion for money
Do not sell your Crazy desire to make a change for money.
Do the the things which really matters to you.
Dont just be a dreamer, be a man who dreams and do things Differently. And dont forget to help people in need
-Shafraz Rahim