The Smile Stash: Two decades to dreams coming true!!

Making a list of things I'd buy with my first salary was something I did from when I was like 7. Even as a child, I was seriously obsessed with having my own source of income.

By the time I turned 13, my fascination for having my own job hit an all time high. I applied for a job that I saw in the newspaper- they were impressed with my enthusiasm, but asked me to come back later when I am older, in like 5 years. I considered a few other options- like working at stores or restaurants, but it wasn't something kids of any age did at the time, let alone a 13yr old girl like me. I thought hard and narrowed my options down to just one- tutoring math at the school next door!

I wrote a proper letter to the school principal, using the format of letter-writing my Hindi teacher had just taught us at school, and infusing all the English words I knew at that time as a Telugu-medium student. The principal of the school called me for an interview and hired me immediately! I started teaching there the very next day!

The next 30days were amazing! I put my heart and soul into teaching those 6th and 7th graders! I was on cloud nine! It felt too good to be true- I have a job and I am an employee! A pair of anklets, a new school uniform, hair clips and cosmetics were the regulars in my ever changing list of things I planned to buy with that first paycheck.

It all turned anticlimactic when the principal coolly told me that I was doing a great job 'volunteering '. It was not like I was tutoring because I was exceptional in math.

Maybe I was, but that is besides point. The only reason I was tutoring was because I needed to get paid, so I could buy all the things on my list. I quit that day.

I had to wait until I turned 20 before I had a real opportunity to bring home a paycheck- my visit to US for gradschool! I got paid $500.50 that first pay period for being a research assistant with Dr.Palanki in the Department of Chemical engineering. Dr. Palanki is also the reason why I am a Dr Vemuri today. He encouraged me to not stop with a masters and to pursue Ph.D. Being a fellow South Indian Telugu person, he even bribed me with idly/sambar if I stayed for ph.d.!

I have Dr. Palanki and the Ph.D. I got upon his insistence to thank for, for the first corporate paycheck I got from Intel Corporation. I don't remember now what my list had at that time, but remember being ridiculously happy!

Speaking of ridiculous happiness, today, June 7th, marks the 20th anniversary of another ridiculously happy moment for me- my first day at Intel, my very first employer after completing my formal education. Today, I got to celebrate the occasion with some of my very best friends that have been with me throughout these past 20 years. Somewhere between ages 13 and 44, I transitioned from simply wanting to earn a paycheck to be able to afford a wishlist, to one that is eternally grateful. From the first interviewer at Niha Communications in Hydarabad, to every single friend and acquaintance that motivated me in my career, thank you for paving the path to my financial independence!