Forty-five years is an important milestone, especially for an immigrant trying to make a home far from the one left behind. For me, it is also the passage of time and the transition from young to old, a moment to reflect on what began when I stepped off the plane at JFK with more hopes than possessions. Along the way I met people who shaped me, learned lessons I carry still, and found reasons to be deeply thankful.
Research and Roots: When I arrived in the summer of 1980, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine became home for 17 productive and enjoyable years. It satisfied my scientific curiosity and gave me the chance to explore multiple research disciplines—muscle physiology, biochemistry, protein engineering, and molecular modeling. Each stage brought new challenges and kept me learning. Einstein also saw my life transition from bachelorhood to family man, and gave Jaya the chance to work, making the experience truly a family enterprise. The work was demanding, but it also let me be present when family mattered most—something few careers allow. Those were exciting times in biomedical research, when grants were less competitive and ideas flowed freely. Snow, rain, or shine, we always walked the half-mile back and forth to the lab, a rhythm that kept us grounded. We built friendships in the research community and in the neighborhood, bonds that gave us strength in those early years. With both our children born there, Einstein became the backdrop to our young family’s first steps in America. Einstein also sponsored my green card, giving me not just a career start but a life start in America. Thank you, Einstein, for strengthening my spirit of scientific inquiry, preparing me for the challenges ahead, and giving our young family its roots.
Career in Technology and Innovation: Looking back, the career transition to information technology paid off very well—two decades of continued employment without a break. After a couple of consulting gigs, I ended up at the American Institute of Physics (AIP) and stayed for 17 years. We bought a house and moved closer to work, within six miles, and Jaya was able to continue her employment. With the stable jobs at AIP, we were able to see both our kids through middle school, high school, and college without financial hardship. AIP put to use my two decades of scientific experience—first in building systems for research scientists, and later in portfolio expansion and editorial management. My strong footing in the science community gave me the confidence to advocate for open-access publishing, then viewed as a threat but now mainstream. In my final years, AIP even encouraged me to experiment with new projects under a “Google-20% time” model, which broadened my skills and kept me learning. Despite the economic turmoil of the early 2000s, I survived and thrived. Thank you, AIP, for sustaining my family and helping me grow as both a professional and a person.
Babysitting Grandkids: With our first grandchild due in the summer of 2021, it seemed the perfect time for us to downsize and move closer to my elder son and daughter-in-law. We settled into a condo just a few miles away, ready to help as the family grew. A shift to part-time freelancing allowed us to balance independence with the joy of helping family. When our first angel arrived, life reset by three decades—suddenly we were back in the rhythm of diaper changes, lullabies, bedtime stories, bottle feedings, potty training, and sleepovers. Soon came trips to playgrounds, library story hours, duck ponds, backyard chases, and even kids’ TV time. Life grew more hectic, yet more joyful, with the birth of our second angel two years later. We found ourselves savoring small milestones—first smiles, baby rollovers, first steps, first words—with a patience and wonder we may have rushed past in our younger years. Thank you, little angels, for giving us joy and a renewed sense of purpose.
Family: Many things happen in forty-five years of adult life—marriage, starting a family, buying a house, vacations, long-distance travels, kids, college fees, and finally an empty nest. In my case, that also meant losing my father, mother, and only sibling. Certain things in life are unavoidable. Yet joy often arrives in unexpected ways. One happy addition is that Jaya and I acquired a daughter and are all set to welcome another soon, along with our two granddaughters. It reminds us that even as we lose, life also gives back in surprising ways.
Words of wisdom to the young: This is your time; work hard as the opportunities are on your side. But don’t rush past the small moments that later become your fondest memories. You are watched all the time—set good examples. Dates are closer than you think; always have time to play with and guide your young. And don’t forget to respect the ones who raised you; ignore their follies, you will be like them one day. Be thankful to the people who made you what you are.
Advice to the old and not so old: Sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor and love. Remember the adage that extinction is the rule and survival the exception—yet within that reality lies the wonder of our own improbable journey. Be thankful for all the good things that life has offered.
After forty-five years, that’s what Thanksgiving means to me: gratitude for the journey that shaped my family and gave us roots.
Aravind Akella
Tappan, NY
