Interview by B.
Delancy Photo by Don Saracen
Last August, Vikas Jhingran was victorious
at the 2007 World Championship of Public Speaking. The 34-year-old
Massachusetts Institute of Technology PhD candidate and husband
delivered a speech titled “The Swami’s Question,”
which, in simple terms, is an introspective look at who you are. Vikas
is pursuing an engineering degree now, but for many years he worked as
a naval architect in his native India. We talk about the importance of
campus involvement, his thesis, fears, and how he handles pressure.
World Scholar: Tell us about Toastmasters. When
did you become involved with the organization and how has this
experience continue to impact your life and shape who you are today?
Vikas Jhingran: Toastmasters is a non-profit
organization with the aim of helping people improve their communication
and leadership skills. I have been part of toastmasters for 4-1/2
years. It has helped me immensely to improve my communication skills
which in turn has led to more confidence, assertiveness and improved
social life.
What is “The Swami’s Question"?
This is the story of how excellence is in all of
us, if we just stop and listen to ourselves every day so that we align
our actions outside with who we are inside.
How do you manage life as a student and husband
to your wife Anjali?
It’s tough ... but my wife always knows
that she comes first.
Ahhh! What are the leadership and communication
initiatives you are so actively establishing as part of MIT’s
engineering curriculum program?
When I came to MIT, I became an officer with the
Sloan Leadership Club. During my term, I tried to get engineering
students involved with the activities of the club. I have also taught a
workshop on public speaking during the winter break at MIT. Further, I
volunteer time to help the UPOP (Undergraduate Practice Opportunities
Program) for sophomores.
There are a lot of ways to build leadership on
campus with courses and activities. The problem is that most students
don’t realize the importance of these activities until they are
out of school. Thus, there is a need to make them part of the core
curriculum rather than as voluntary opportunities.
International graduate students, in general, are
very focused on the academic side of things and rarely take leadership
or communication courses. I hope this changes in the future.
Tell us about your thesis?
My research focuses on Vortex-Induced
Vibrations (VIV), a interdisciplinary field in fluid structure
interaction with important applications in the oil and gas industry. My
thesis looks into some interesting fatigue damage and mean drag force
issues due to VIV.
What intrigues and baffles you most about oceans?
The ocean is truly a beautiful combination of
power and serenity. It contains so much energy yet watching the waves
on a beach can be the most soothing experience (I can just sit on a
beach and watch the waves all day.) It also makes me stay grounded.
Anytime I feel I have achieved a lot the ocean reminds me that I am
just a “drop in the ocean".
Can you swim?
Barely!!! That’s the next think on my
“to learn” list.
When you first arrived to study in the States
many years ago, what fears did you have, if any, and how were you able
to overcome them?
Getting used to life in the US was certainly not
easy. Like most students, I immersed myself in academics. With time I
discovered that this country is very welcoming and offers wonderful
opportunities to people like us.
What advise would you give to students who are
bogged down and have the weight of their families and countries on
their shoulders to perform well while in the United States.
That’s a difficult question. In my
experience, I have had the best results by just doing the best I can
(trying to live to my potential) and not worrying about the
expectations of others. For this I had to take the time to introspect,
figure out my passions and not settle for mediocrity.
What are your plans after completing studies at
MIT?
I hope to work in the oil and gas industry. I
also hope to be involved with leadership development programs and do
some public speaking.
