Narrative: Between Education and Career

Narrative: Between Education and Career

In the year 1992, Anil moved to Virginia to work for a company, Computer Science Corporation (CSC). In the same year, he enrolled at Northern Virginia Community College as a part-time student. He earned some credits in the computer science back in the Middlesex county college, New Jersey. The knowledge he gained in the computer science in the junior college helped him get the entry-level job in the bad Job-market.  

One year later, he joined a company after being laid off by CSC.   The new company was small but it gave Anil an opportunity to learn a new application.   In the summer of this year, his company landed a contract with "Norway Telephone" company. Anil was in the team who would build applications for them. This assignment would require frequent travel to Norway. Anil had a mixed feeling. He was happy that he was selected. On the other hand, he was upset of thinking that he had to discontinue his study. Anil had no choice but to take it. He needed this job to support his family including his mother.

On a day in the summer of the year 1993, Anil and his team boarded on the "British Airways" plane for their first trip. The destination was Oslo, Norway. On the flight, they enjoyed the business class facility in the upper deck of the aircraft. The upper deck had only nine comfortable seats with bigger spaces between. The hostess always was ready to offer services – variety of drinks from soft to hard, including expensive alcohols, and food. Jim Thompson who was a lead of Anil is a big guy, 6 feet high and weighing 200 pounds, took a few times to make him comfortable on his seat. He was smart, a graduate from Virginia Tech, and seven years younger than Anil. They worked together in a project before. They became friend in a short time. They sat side by side in the upper deck. Jim liked to talk about everything – sports, movie, concert and jobs. Jim was drinking alcohol, Vodka. A bottle of soda made Anil happy for...