Today we’d like to introduce you to Tarisha Mistry.
Hi Tarisha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Stories constitute the most power in a leader’s journey and today, I am humbled to share mine. Reversing the gear into memory lane, I have always been Inclined to art and to explore the unknown. Overall my childhood was quite active learning various skills like skating, gymnastic and classical dance – Bharatnatyam, painting, etc. As years passed, absorption in the education system picked depth and an imaginative part of me had left behind somewhere but those fractions had always stayed within to explore the beyond. Being a stargazer, I kept asking myself questions about science, universe and was fascinated about civilian space journey to explore the unknown. Crossing the imaginary wall between art and science, as a kid, I made multiple artworks of space shuttles, galaxies, stars and read about various space programs, during those days where the internet was still picking pace, books were my best friends, that curiosity of questions which I always ask as a child to myself that what do engineers do up in the sky, motivated me to enroll into electronics and telecommunication engineering program in India.
Raised by hardworking parents, roots were strongly built within to never settled down with less. Throughout my life, I saw them waking up each day at 5 am, being a great supporter of my dreams, and done everything in hand to provide me and my sister better education. Their value system and a deep appreciation for empowerment saw me pursuing a career in science where not many had inclined for during those days from our community which was reserved towards gender equality and to let fly females with wide wings and for that, I consider myself a fortunate one to have the advanced mindset of parents who never stopped us pursuing our dreams. Sometimes to achieve a dream, validation of the education system can put one into silo mode especially in the phase where you are still functioning under clarifying grey areas between good and bad within yourself.
Absolutely no journey of an individual is smooth, few are known and few remain unknown. In my life also that phase came back in India during engineering years where self-confidence had been shaken, self-doubt was at a peak and felt like I am losing myself somewhere, and then again ART came back into my world, slowly I started appreciating each shade, painted my emotions out, and started connecting with myself more by each passing day. I was able to see the potential within myself which was beyond the validation of the surroundings, I started writing a journal and envisioning a better version of myself, where I was with the competition of none but just myself to be better than before. I was grateful to see the outcomes with never giving up attitude. In all those days, three things as always remained as my strong companions throughout – Parents, Art, and my Books! Despite financial constraints, my dream kept flying and I landed up receiving a full scholarship to complete my master’s in Electrical and Computer engineering from the University of Massachusetts. Those were the moments where I captured proud moments of the smile of my parents forever within me in my artbook.
Being an immigrant, this country had accepted me with wide arms, made me financially independent from the beginning, provided fabulous opportunities to work with great minds starting from my research work on military aeronautical programs in school to the date. As Norman Vincent said, “ Shoot for the moon, Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars”. For me, that star was each biggest tech industry I worked with who had graciously blended art into sleek engineering designs and gave a tremendous responsibility to execute high stake engineering programs and portfolios; that star was each co-worker, each friend, each artist with whom I explored various art galleries; that star was each person who had directly or indirectly motivated me to close the rings.
As one of my most methodical inspiration Albert Einstein said “Creativity is intelligence having fun!”, That spark of Art ignited again during this pandemic phase where having a healthy mind-body balance is at key, I opted initiative to forward my energies towards giving back to the society in form of my non-profit art organization called “Enchanted_Art_Orbit”, which is not just a word for me but in a way a story of my life. For me, Art liberates me and helps me connect the bridge from my inner self to the outer world and to speak where words are unable to. It started giving me immense happiness by bringing various seasons into the life of patients who can not go out much from their house or hospital rooms. I started making real flowers artworks like tea/ wine coasters, art jewelry, paper blocks, and bookends and donating into hospitals for patients who are in maternity wards waiting to see the miracle of the universe, emergency rooms patients who are recovering from virus, children who are suffering from chronic disease. With their appreciation, may place orders to make gifts for hospital nurses to thanks all of their handwork and immense care during the most delicate time of their life. Each time when their face shines seeing the handmade real flower artwork, it gave me more gratification and fulfillment to make difference in others world even if at the smaller segment.
As eventually, everything connects in a full circle, today that child within me who was dreaming about unknowns has finally connected a piece of a bridge between Art and Engineering and feel content within. Today I am an artist also an engineer; I am a mother also a full-time engineering management professional; I am Indian also an American. I am a wife also an obedient daughter. Currently, as I am on the path of bringing the right balance into the world of my son, a segment of credit goes to my life partner who made my path smoother with his great support and kept that kid within me dancing, laughing, and reaching horizons of her dreams each passing day. As today we set examples for future generations, only words which come out for future generation are “Never Give Up Your Dreams and Be Shy of Self-Confidence, With Time everything will start making Sense”.
Has it been a smooth road? What are the challenges you faced among the way?
It’s never been a smooth road. New challenges like economical global recession impacting jobs right after graduation, settling yourself in new country, struggle of finding correct path always comes with challenges.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Full-time professional managing engineering programs and Portfolios and also creating artwork to contribute to the society.
Who else deserve credit?
Absolutely credit for success goes to my parents who had been with me in each shade of journey, my maternal uncle who acted as my inspiration and godfather, and also my life partner who had always been a great supporter. I would also thank university professors to help me choose correct path after graduation during my PHD in engineering program; hospitals nurses during my pregnancy journey and inspiring me to start my art studio.
Contact Info:
- Email: enchanted.art.orbit@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enchanted_art_orbit/?hl=en
