To be great or nothing - my sister Dr. Vidhi Lalchand. 🌟🎓

Guest Post

By Ron

"I want to be great or nothing" - Louise May Alcott. 🌟🎓

On July 21st, a remarkable day unfolded as Vidhi earned her PhD in a scarily daunting and mathematical topic called Gaussian Processes (which, according to her, can describe any function in nature) from the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge. An institution steeped in scientific history, where groundbreaking discoveries once reshaped our understanding of the world.

The day embraced time-honored traditions, commencing with afternoon tea at Christ's College, followed by a grand procession through the streets of Cambridge to the Senate House, culminating in a graduation ceremony graced with eloquent Latin phrases, marking the culmination of an awe-inspiring five-year journey at arguably one of the world’s - hardest to get into - university.

Naturally, my parents were present for this unforgettable moment, and I'm certain it will forever hold a special place in their hearts.

In the week leading up to the ceremony, we embarked on a family trip to the enchanting Lake District—a prelude to the celebration ahead, where we spent evenings that melted into dawn, laughing over fond memories and strengthening our bonds.

Rogue, Rebel & Radical - my sister always describes herself with these three words, and I am slowly beginning to understand why. She is an indefatigable and indomitable force, almost mindless in her courage. I guess there cannot be a better way to close this piece than with her favorite lines from a poetic gem by Allama Iqbal, also mentioned in her thesis:

You are a falcon, and your passion is flight.

You have more skies to conquer still.

Ron signing out!

Zeek signing out!!