The Agony and Ecstasy of "Masterthesia"

Please don’t start Googling this word "Masterthesia", as all you can find will be the search results related with MASTER THESIS. Let me make it clear that "Masterthesia" is not a disease, and this article has no relation what so ever with medical and health issues with a student when he is pursuing his Master Thesis. It is just an attempt to share the agony and ecstasy (feeling of high and low) which I went through during the process my M.T (Master Thesis) which was mandatory part of the MBA program.

Don’t misread M.T as empty, because I did it once at the start of this whole process soon to realise that thesis cannot be empty. So what is this whole process, to clear it with an example: It is much like that you have to act as a Pilot and have to take off an Aeroplane all by your own (but with the guidance of Senior Pilots), sounds exiting right?, but did I tell u before that you have no idea which plane you are about to fly, you might not have any practical flying experience before this day though you have studied all about flying.

Connecting this example with reality makes the "Plane" the topic of your thesis (project), that you will be offered by the company (some time you know topic before applying, some time you don't). In my case, our class profile (a short profile of all MBA students) was send to this company and they (company) showed interest in my profile and asked me to apply with all my documents. I was applying in Marketing and Sales department is what I only knew, the topic not. Similarly I had no prior experience in Marketing and Sales similar to an educated but practically untrained Pilot, but certainly interested in flying (learning the practical side of Marketing and Sales).

I was actually preparing for a presentation in school soon to realise that my phone was ringing, an unknown landline number which could be of some company. I  said  "hello" to hear back "Guten Tag Herr Madan", I knew immediately that slightest of fumble on this telephonic interview will remove Guten from that wish and an empty Tag is what I’ll be carrying back home. Much to my please, I was talking to the manager (one of the senior pilot) under whom I was about to learn flying (doing project), interview went smoothly with some questions about my background and skills. "German language was not tested". Don't believe me, well its better not to believe and train oneself the best one can in speaking German as everybody cannot be as lucky as I was, though my spoken German was good enough.

Attending personal interview, clearing it, signing contract and finally landing on the first day in office with a task in hand to focus 6-8 months on one topic and generate some value from this project and not just mechanically completing it. Banking on the support from a University Prof. (first supervisor) and the company supervisor, I was well on the way to a new and a very challenging journey. For the first one to two months I kept on asking myself, that understanding the functionality of this particular plane (project) is a project in itself, how will I be able to take this Plane in the air (value generation) in the given six months. Soon the fog of worries faded away with time, much to the credit of the guidance of my supervisors who suggested books and other research. In the 3-4 months, I saw lot of information and deadline reminders in the forum of our alumni website about the Corporate Project Report (in which one needs to explain the analysis of the "problem  part" of M.T in detail).

A feeling of satisfaction, when Prof. liked the structure (table of contents) of my Corporate Project Report, and a feeling of “My god, more work” is what I am sure I said many times and quite obviously why. Time flew, and soon I saw the deadline of the submission of the M.T coming closer to me at the speed faster than I.C.E (Fastest Train in Germany). Finally I accepted stress as the cost for getting an MBA, writing thesis at home after the tiring 7.5 hours job at office was far away from amusing. The day of my final presentation and of M.T submission came. Just before my presentation, I consumed a chocolate and a coffee to keep my sugar level higher and consequently lesser the stress level, which worked perfectly for me (an advice for you all as well - soft doping).

The project was successfully completed and has generated lot of value for the company. This internship in German company has come as a bundle of positive experiences. To end this, I come from India where Bollywood Movies mostly ends on a happy "Note", this happened with me too as I also got  the best "Note" (Grades in German Universities are called "Note") on my M.T which made me and my family very proud and happy.

I have seen a “sky rocket” change in my personality in the last 18 months of my study in Hochschule Esslingen (The oldest German University offering MBA Program in English). The decision, I will love to make again.