m. wade

in my previous post, i was talking about how i wanted to meet the great minds at cambridge and be inspired by them. but who says you need only be galvanised by great intellectual minds? i realised today that it is also those people whom you see everyday, those who are in the background of your life's play, that can just as surely inspire you to great lengths.

maurice wade is the security guard who works the morning shift at stuvi. he may just be a security guard, but you would not know that when you meet him. he does his job with so much pride he might as well be on the board of a MNC. i go down every monday to pick up the keys to the computer lab so i have developed an acquaintance with him.

when i went down today, he was all smiles as usual and he asked me about my day and about school and genuinely listened to me as i ranted about the most trivial things imaginable. who actually listens these days?

he went on to ask me about computers and what i would recommend buying and why one brand was better than another and what type of specs would be good. i was thoroughly impressed by his knowledge and told him so-- he simply responded by saying, "hey the learning never stops man"

a security guard on a university campus telling a student that. the irony! but the impact of his words on me were enormous.. he is just a security guard yet he does his job with pride and dedication. he is always smiling and willing to help. most amazingly, he is always willing to learn. i am truly humbled.

i guess its true, it's the little things in life that catch you unaware and when you least expect it, but when they do, boy do they give you a jolt and make you want to rethink your life..