About Me — Treveni Mukherjee
Punny. Smart. Silly. Honest. Science Enthusiast. Foodie.
My name is Treveni (pronounced ‘three-way-knee’) and it’s nice to meet you!
People I meet are always fascinated by my name and want to know its meaning, so I am going to assume you are as well:
Treveni: The unification of the three well-known rivers of India, Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati
While the spelling can vary when written in English (like the different versions of the notorious ‘Ashley’), there exists only one spelling and pronunciation in my language, Hindi, and that is त्रिवेणी.
Humble Beginnings
I hail from Mumbai, India, where I was raised in the presence of brutal, but lovely, monsoons, vibrant festivals, delicious food, and the legendary Alphonso mangoes. Hinduism has been a major part of my upbringing from my mom’s side of the family, but funnily enough, I choose to be an agnostic theist.
To add to this spicy-sweet cocktail, English is my first language. This does come with its pros and cons, but the good news is that my Hindi is better than it was during my school days and is continuing to improve, so I’ll count that as progress!
While having been born in India, I ended up living in the Middle East for most of my life, and it is here where I became well acquainted with another equally as vibrant and diverse group of people who have shared with me their culture, food, and the Arabic language.
The Hellscape aka School
You could say that I fit the definition of the word ‘Nerd’ — somewhat sociable, a little goofy looking, and with a nose constantly buried in a book, be it a fiction novel filled with battling mecha or an encyclopedia of dinosaurs.
I was your average student who kept her grades and scores consistent until those also took a bit of a nosedive as I progressed to higher classes where the workload increased, assessments became brutally competitive, fitting a specific mold was preferred over individuality, and expectations turned inconceivable. Not one to take a beating and not fight back, I passed the notoriously difficult and soul-sucking CBSE Board Exams with amazing results that got me into a top university of my choosing, all thanks to the support of my family, friends, and my godawful amount of spite.
No matter how annoying my school life was, I am glad to have met some lovely people on the way who were kind, supportive, understanding, and most importantly, honest.
University = Free Pizza + More Drama
When I thought going to another country to attend university would at least give me some respite from all the pointless teen angst, boy was I proven wrong. Not like in the movies with their whirlwind romances and perfect study-life balance, or like the happy people on the front cover of a university prospectus.
Frankly, there were days when I wanted to wake up and choose violence especially when I had to deal with a particular snobby lecturer, two years of uncivil neighbors from hell, and some stuck-up colleagues. Of course, it continues to be an uphill battle after Brexit happened and the pandemic ruined my chances of employment post-graduation, but, amidst another hellscape of our making, I cherished my time at university, made some life-long friends, and nursed sizeable food babies alongside said, friends.
Most memorable was the final year of my degree; the Epic Climax to another chapter in my life. It is customary for every STEM student to choose a lab/supervisor to work with for their final year, so I chose a lab whose main focus was virology and cryoelectron microscopy. Never in my entire life had I been that enthusiastic to get up at 6 AM to work at the lab, and my mom can corroborate this fact! Being part of an amazing team and being seen as an equal was a euphoric feeling, also paired with the fact that I got to do what I loved most.
My supervisor and post-doctoral lab partner always saw the best in me despite my slow-poke nature. People usually see my “slowness” as a weakness or a hindrance, but it is of great advantage to me. Learning new concepts has never been easier and I can pay attention to any and every minor detail, which is key when working in a lab; once I get the hang of a new procedure or technique or skill, I can do it much faster with each iteration. So yeah, that weakness is my strength.
It is these people, and those close to me, who will say I have an unparalleled love for research and a single-minded focus on making a difference in this world.
Present Day: A Challenger (Unemployment) Approaches
As of now, I have been keeping myself busy by learning some graphic design, revamping my cover letters and CVs to apply for microbiology or virology-related jobs, doing lots of upskilling, and meeting up with friends. I’m taking it easy for a while because, folks, your mental health is most important during times like this and it’s okay to prioritize yourself over other aspects of your life.
The Nursing A Food Baby Saga continues…
I will continue exploring whatever piques my interest until I find a decent job in this wondrous mess of a world.
The Good Place
Hobbies?
I enjoy gaming, reading all kinds of books as a form of escapism, amateur photography, writing, cooking, and origami.
Movies? TV Series? Anime?
I’m down for anything that has a good plot and memorable characters! It can be anything from an animation to a slasher film.
Off the top of my head, here are a few of my current favorites: Princess Mononoke (and every other Studio Ghibli film), Belle from Studio Chizu, Wall-E, Knives Out, John Wick, Don’t Look Up, everything from the Alien vs Predator movie franchise, Derry Girls, The Witcher, and Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Inspirational Quotes because I’m 100% Cheesy
There are these three quotes that I wish to hang on the walls of my own home someday because I resonate well with them:
This one is from the legend behind Marvel Comics:
That person who helps others simply because it should be or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero. — Stan Lee
The next one is from the winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935, who’s also the daughter of Marie Salomea Skłodowska–Curie:
Without the love of research, mere knowledge and intelligence cannot make a scientist. — Irène Joliot-Curie
Lastly, my all-time favorite from a Fable:
Slow and steady wins the race. — Aesop’s Fables
I’m afraid this is where we must part ways, but if you are still curious to know more, you are very welcome to drop a comment below, I’d appreciate it!
Now I shall treat myself to a nice, warm cup of green tea and a good book.
Tea you later!
