A Fresh Chapter in My Forties

The wooden stairs and dim light at Darbhanga House, Patna look familiar.

- Kaveri Mishra

The building that I used to visit about 24 years ago with three of my best friends while pursuing my Honours degree at Patna College in the year 2000, has not changed a bit. The river-front building, the mighty Ganga in the background, the Raja and Rani Blocks of the grand palace and the famous Kali temple are all the same. But there is something new and ‘not so normal’ about the way I feel today. This is because I am entering the premises of Patna University as a student; a student pursuing a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication; a student who is nervous, yet ready to take on the world in her forties—for age is just a number.

Though I have a Master’s degree in Rural Management from Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi, and close to 15 years of experience in the banking and development sectors, I have decided to give myself a second chance by delving into the world of journalism. A degree does matter if you want to be a specialist in a particular field. It not only helps you to learn the nuances of that field but also makes you ‘market ready’. After getting a few of my stories published in leading newspapers and magazines in the last couple of years, I realised that I too could write and express myself in simple words, with empathy and emotions. However, with the passage of time, I learnt that a professional degree comes handy.