Recently I saw a movie - 3 idiots - where one of the lead characters said - "Paanch bajkar pandrah minute pe main paida aur paanch bajkar sollah minute pe mere papa ne keh diya ki main engineer banunga aur main engineer ban gaya. Kisi ne yeh nahi pucha ki main kya banna chahta hoon." (I was born on 5.15 am and at 5.16 am my papa decided
that I will be an engineer and I became one. No one bothered to ask me what I wanted to become).
The few lines above summarize my present condition. I am not a student of any of the hot shot schools or colleges of India. I did my ICSE from a decent school in Durgapur. I was very confused when it came to choosing subjects for my plus two. I liked physics immensely. Biology was never my genre. The only option that I had was Statistics as my fourth subject. And before I even knew I was in love with it. Like all science students do, I too sat for the different engineering entrances examinations. But somewhere or the other I had a feeling that I was not made for it. I wanted to study Statistics. I was on cloud nine when I saw my name on the list of candidates selected for Statistics honors in St. Xavier's College. Unfortunately I managed a decent rank in every entrance examination that I had appeared. My family dragged me into an engineering college. I was too timid to protest. And here I am now facing hell everyday studying matrix educare. I guess I was not meant to be on cloud nine for long.
I know there are millions of people like me. Studying something they don’t like and feeling down and out whenever they can’t meet their parents’ expectations. Study 24 hours a day and still you can’t please them. Results come and the first things parents ask is what the highest mark is and who got it…
I am now preparing for Common Admission Test. After doing an MBA (according to my father’s wish of course), I wish to prepare for the civil services, something that I want to do and I won’t give up.
I hope that for some of my readers it’s not too late. I hope they won’t be timid like me and fight for what they want to study. If they make the same mistake that I did, they will go through college hating every moment of it and inwardly cursing their parents constantly.
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3 comments:
Thanks for enabling comment, Partha.
While you have my deepest sympathies and good wishes (there's a lot of life left yet, so cheer up), my views on this subject are too well known to need repetition. So I shall wait to see how others comment.
Congratulations for having been brave enough to tell the truth.
Dear Partha,
Sir is right. Your life is not exactly over! Thank your lucky star that even though you were pushed into engineering, you still have found something that you want to do after completing your Bachelors and Masters. It’s good to see your determination also.
Most people, who are highly dissatisfied with the job they do, blame bad working condition or their bosses. Most of the students who are shoved into genres they don’t like are never brave enough to confess that they despise what they study. These are the people who grow up to hate their parents but after 10-15 years when they become parents, they repeat the same mistake!
The hope that it’s not too late for some people is indeed heartening. But for the people for whom it’s too late to turn back, I hope they won’t do the same with their children.
Anwesha.
Dear Partha,
Here you are talking about a subject that is very close to my heart.
I wanted to study about marine creatures and live among them. My dad wanted me to be follow his footsteps and join his flourishing business. I didn't want a stupid business house. I wanted a camera and lots of nature around me.
But instead I was shoved into a commerce college in Delhi and now am a CA, enjoying just the beautiful colleagues and hating the work! I wanted to run away. Make a small and humble living somewhere and take photos of sea animals. But I was brought up lavishly and the thought of facing the big bad world sobered me down.
I packed up my bag and went to study accountancy!
I know a small boy. My friend's son. I am like a dad to him and if I live to see him go to high school, I'll ask him to study only what he loves and wants to...I give him this advice very often but he just a kindergarden goer and changes his aim almost everyday (repairing bicycles today, cotton candy seller tomorrow!!!), so it's not much use now! ]
I hope other people and parents wil do the same.
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