Science is like Magic but Real :)
MANALI
Dear younger self,
You are living life on your own terms, trying to make the best of all the opportunities near you, trying to make sense of life, and learn from every little cue that life presents to you (animate or not). You have no idea how these little things that you do right now would help build a tower of knowledge and experience! Years later, for you, in hindsight, it will all start to make sense.
Remember the day when you questioned whether your blood group could really be A because your father is AB and your mother is O? You had always seen it written as A in your school diary, but you thought it should match one of theirs on face value. You even changed it to AB in your diary, assuming there was a mistake. Then, when you learned about alleles—how each parent contributes one and their combinations determine blood groups—you laid out all possible scenarios. To your surprise, you found that only A or B was possible, and A was correct after all! That little investigation showed you how science (biology) can be deeper than it seems and gave you a glimpse of how it must feel to make a discovery.
I am so proud of you for spending time on things until you got your answers. That’s an indispensable quality of a researcher- perseverance! As you advance in exploring science, you will also learn from your mentors when is the right time to stop digging, and to not burn yourself out. You can always make little time for life and resume brainstorming after resting adequately.
Notebook images by Manali
Photo by Lum3n from Pexels
Let me tell you that there will be times when life takes up all the space, and you might forget what brought you here and why you started. During moments like these, give yourself time, feel all the emotions, and continue to look for all the little things around you that remind you of the generosity of nature. Nature is all around us, and drawing inspiration from it—not just through understanding it, but also looking to it — as a reminder to forgive yourself and others— will help you stay grounded.
"
Nothing can dim the light that shines from within."
MAYA ANGELOU
Life, philosophy, science, and living beings are important characters in your life. At different points in time, you will find one or a combination of these characters playing important roles in your life. Make it a regular habit to communicate with them. Art is your best friend; keep in touch with always- during your lows and highs . Your art will be your backbone—it will help you sustain a flourishing life in science.
Spoiler alert: You will be pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy at a national institute of eminence with a super supportive, empathetic and understanding supervisor. And do you know what the cherry on top is? The topic of your PhD is a niche area that complements both your interests and abilities.
You will begin with Biochemistry as your Bachelor’s subject, laying a solid foundation in life sciences. Then, during your Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics, with a specialization in Nutrigenomics, you’ll explore a more applied perspective. By the time you reach your PhD, you’ll have the chance to combine these two passions—life sciences, your long-standing interest, and nutrition, a field you’ll grow to love.
Photo credits to Chetan Bagare from Pexels
Your Master’s will focus on applications but will also show you the need to sharpen your wet lab skills, something your PhD will help you refine. This journey will deepen your understanding of nutrition and life sciences, letting you blend these fields in ways that few researchers can so early in their careers.
See the magic of striving despite all the odds? Sure, you will encounter unexpected, and sometimes unpleasant things on your way. But if you stay true to yourself, magic is possible <3
With immense love, from your elder self!
About Manali
Manali Chindarkar is a PhD candidate at BITS Pilani Hyderabad, focusing on Nutrition for Autism Spectrum Disorder. With 2 years of experience as the Chief of Research & Development at iTHRIVE, a healthcare startup, and over 3 years of teaching experience, she blends a keen eye for research with a creative and reflective mindset. Beyond academia, she finds inspiration in art, insights, and the small wonders of everyday life.
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