Nikolas Dietis
We live in very strange times. We are in the midst of a pandemic that has killed more than 560.000 people worldwide to date. The global economy is shaking, the political and civil landscape around the world is more sensitive than ever to required changes. In all this global unrest, you also have your own personal and professional endeavors to consider. Your family, your career, your bills, your future. You must be feeling overwhelmed, uncertain and hesitant to take the next steps.
I know exactly how you feel…
When I graduated, it was in the middle of a global “economic pandemic”, where banks collapsed, millions of jobs were lost worldwide, people lost their house or pensions, countries were bankrupt. Like you, I was also trying to find myself and foresee my future in the middle of global havoc.
I am here to tell you - it’s going to be alright. You will make it, as I did. As many of us did, as the NTU Class of 2008.
I still remember my last day at NTU, just before I received my MRes in Applied Biosciences. I was proud, but I was full of doubts. Where to next? What if I can’t make it?
Fast-forward twelve years into the future, and I am now typing these words as a happy academic scientist working at the University of Cyprus Medical School as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology. Was it an easy ride? No, it wasn’t. It was a bumpy road, full of turns and unexpected surprises (some of which were not good). But it was my ride. I was the driver of my own vehicle and I had dreams to fulfil. I had to keep my eyes on the road, believe in myself, embrace the beautiful uncertainty of life and just keep my foot on the gas pedal.
My Masters supervisor at NTU was Professor Mark Darlison, who is sadly not with us anymore. He was a marvelous man and one of the best scientists I ever met. I remember asking him that last day of my NTU life, “What do you think I should do next, Mark?”. He didn’t even think about it. He smiled and gave me a nudge; “Don’t think about it too much mate”, he said, “Just get on the next bus of life and see where it takes you”.
Of course, Mark knew what he was talking about. He knew opportunities in life are like buses - if you are only planning to get on a specific bus with the specific criteria you have in mind, the others will keep on passing you by. Missing opportunities and having regrets is the worst feeling you can have.
So, I took Mark’s advice. I didn’t worry too much. He knew that I was a passionate and persistent chap, willing to make sacrifices to make it happen. That was enough for him. All I had to do was just get on that next bus and see where it took me.
After I graduated from NTU, I got myself a PhD scholarship, got my doctorate, and then I got a job as a Lecturer at the University of Tasmania in Australia, before getting the current job I have in Cyprus.
I may be presenting my ride as a linear road of continuing successes, but it wasn’t. Impressive CVs are full of untold stories of failure. The pursuit of happiness is never a straight, comfy road and I too had my share of failures, disappointments and near-quit experiences.
I had to work nightshifts to support myself while studying, I had to cry over failed projects in the lab, and I had to complete dozens of job applications just to get that one that was successful. It was these failures that gave me experience, taught me how to move forward, made me who I am today. It has been a beautiful ride and I wouldn’t change it even a bit.
So, don’t worry about it too much friends. Just get on that next bus and see where it takes you. Whatever comes down the road, just embrace it. When a failure or a hard day comes, just take a breath, learn from your experience and use it as an armor to make you stronger. There is nothing more rewarding than getting wiser on the road of life.
And when you find your Ithaca, please sit down and type your own story and share your words of wisdom to NTU graduates, in order to give them strength and comfort.