The ability to choose is so deeply ingrained in us that we often overlook how powerful it can be.
For Spurthy’s dad and mum, Mr Narasimhamurthy and Usha who made the choice of the role they want to play in their children’s lives, have not only helped shape the lives of their children, but also helped their children find the passion and dedication in the things they set their futures on regardless of what obstacles may come.
“I was fortunate to be able to focus on the research work at my university as my wife made the difficult decision to let her teaching career take a backseat to care for the children full time. And that helps tremendously. Because when it comes to the day-to-day business at home, including homework, my wife has been giving our children full undivided attention,” said Mr Narasimhamurthy, said.
Although Usha takes the lead at home, Mr Narasimhamurthyis the one whom Spurthy looks up to most, seeing him as their role model in their future career. His teaching philosophy and work have had an indomitable influence on the children’s lives.
Working as a Professor at Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur, Karnataka.specialising in Microelectronics for more than 30 years, Mr Narasimhamurthy father would occasionally bring his electronics project home to continue tinkering with them. When Spurthy first laid her eyes on them, she had developed a strong curiosity for these quirky-looking devices.
“When they were young, Spurthy and her sister would crowd around me whenever I came home with something new,” Mr Narasimhamurthy father reminisced.
Living by his teaching philosophy of focusing on teaching the fundamentals, Mr Narasimhamurthy father would spend lengthy amounts of time explaining to his children how such devices work, which sowed the seeds of love for electronics in her precocious years.
Even at 16, when most teenagers are undecided about what they want to pursue in life, Spurthy was clear about what she wanted to pursue, and her parents gave her full support and autonomy for that.
“We gave her a free rein to decide what she would like to pursue in university. They could choose to dive into Commerce, Science, or humanities. Even then, she was resolute in pursuing Electronics,” Usha said.
Unlike most of her friends in India who chose to pursue their master’s degree in the USA, Spurthy did not waver in her decision.
“She was also offered an opportunity to pursue Computer Science overseas, but she was certain about her decision to pursue her Master of Science in Integrated Circuit Design in Singapore,” said Mr Narasimhamurthy father.
It certainly was not easy for Spurthy, who had never left her family for more than a few days.
“We would always travel as a group, even on weekends,” said Usha mother. And Spurthy misses those times. Not wanting to miss a day without hearing about her family, she would almost always call home every day.
“It’s a brand new experience here in Singapore, but when the opportunity comes, just try it. Take on challenges with an open mind,” Spurthy said.