SQL SERVER – Visiting Alma Mater – Delivering Session on Database Performance and Career – Nirma Institute of Technology

Everyone always dream of visiting their school and college, where they have had studied once. It is a great feeling to see the college once again – where you have spent the wonderful golden years of your time. College time is filled with studies, education, emotions and several plans to build future. I consider myself fortunate as I got the opportunity to study at some of the best places in the world.

I have earned my Bachelors in Engineering in Electronics and Communication from Nirma Institute of the Technology (NIT), Ahmedabad, India. I must say that this is one of the finest Engineering colleges in my country. The education is top quality and very strict discipline is followed here. Any engineer who passes out of this institute can survive any technology and adapt well to any change in technology. I have received my Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of the Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, USA.

On September 13, I was invited to Nirma Institute of Technology – my college where I had done my engineering studies. I was invited to present on the subject of Database Performance and Career. I had a really wonderful time presenting the session. I had to leave on the same day to Singapore for another performance tuning consultation; still I decided to take the invitation. I reached to my college 2 hours earlier and walked around. I went to various buildings where I had been before. I still remember the benches where I have sat and learnt the “ABCs” of Electronics. The most touching feeling was the moment when I walked into an empty room, which used to be our digital electronics lab. There was no one inside it; the room was empty and had some equipment lying around.

Suddenly all the old memories started to crowd my mind; the nostalgia was overwhelming and I remember one statement which one of our professors had asked me in the practical examinations. Even now I remember that statement and have always put it in use in my performance tuning consultations many times. Here is the exact conversation which had happened around 10 years ago.

Professor: What is the OR gate, Pinal? Pinal: Sir, both of them acts on their own and independent. Professor: Both who? Say it right. Pinal: Sir, them. Professor: Ahha…What is your student id? Pinal: Sir I don’t remember it exactly. Professor: Do you still have to remember your student id – haven’t you memorized it yet? Pinal: No Sir, I mean Yes Sir. I mean … Professor: The grade I give you today is a part of your final exams do you understand. Pinal: Sir, OR gate is the gate where both the capacitors put in parallel has different capacities to hold voltage and irrespective of what the other capacitor’s value is, they provide electric charge. Professor: This is a new answer – everybody answers that if either of the value is true you get answer true. Very well, what is your student id? I still need to put your grade.

When I remembered this conversation, I felt extreme gratitude to my Alma Mater, my college. Today if anyone asks me how OR works in WHERE condition, my answer will be the same as what I had given to my professor. In fact, it is true that in OR condition, all the conditions are independent and have no relations with the other conditions, irrespective of how big or how small they are. There is no replacement for good education; no matter what you study, you can be still finest in your subject of interest using that knowledge.

I was fortunate that I studied at my college and became what I am today. It is a matter of pride for me as they have invited me as the Database Expert and I presented this topic in front of 350 final year IT students. I did not take any database course in my bachelors study as my area was Electronics and Communications; I did not take any database course during my Masters as my study area was Electrical Engineering. I did not take any course on database ever as my course structure never allowed me to do so most of the time. Today I feel very privileged that my college has invited me to present a session as an expert on database. They could have selected anyone from the whole of India to present the subject, but they selected me and I am very much obliged. I have been rejected three times so far in my early career when I had applied for the DBA position. I was given the reason that I had not taken any database course in my education. However, today, I do consultation for two of those organizations as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and one of the organizations does not exist any more.

The experience of presenting a session at my college was very unique. I have offered them my help that they can count on me any time without thinking of any professional charges, I will never think of making money from the organization that has made me who I am with its solid foundation. Here are few photos of my presentation at the College.

Reference: Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)