How many of us have felt the crunch in our gut when we have had to decide or are yet to decide what stream to take up after we finish our higher secondary. (Or if you had to choose courses in your school in some cases). I had a real hard time while doing that. You may call it a weak decision taking ability or lack of guidance, but since I passed that stage, I take it as a ‘kinda’ responsibility to help younger students (that definitely doesn’t mean I’m old, I’m young too! Just a couple years elder ) or people who are yet to pass that stage. I know it is very easy to blog, comment or just say it and pass on, but its tough to feel that phase of life when you feel that nothing’s working out and you seem absolutely lost on planet MARs.

DECISION: A simple word that defines the ability to choose from between two or more options or alternatives?? (Not an oxford definition, just my interpretation) However it appears as a simple thing but now when I am amidst my MBA, I somehow feel what I was taught is all bull shit! Decision (making) can be so complex, it was a nightmare inside a dream for me! Boy how people on Earth love complexities, making simple things appear so difficult. I hate it when that happens.

By the time we reach class 11/12, you start thinking or maybe earlier, but I started thinking only then. We start the transition phase from a student to a youngster once we enter college. I think till in school we’re all ‘kids’ and suddenly you are termed ‘teenager’. Lets talk of the options we have once you pass class 10. I think in most Indian schools you have to make a choice, (Remember Matrix!), between fun and seriousness. I say so because that’s what the normal image is. I don’t know whether it is the reality, at least I wont comment on that.

Lets say FUN=Commerce, SERIOUSNESS=Science. I think the key decision making lies at this stage. ‘IF’, and I stress on that ‘IF’, we can forsee a little bit, or can just look ahead of our time, things would be a lot more easier for us. But I agree with the fact, that most of us have no time to do that, and overlook that, but no one is to blame for that, coz it’s the age. And by the way for people who have already made a choice at that age, please correct me or give your opinions as to what you felt and helped you taking that choice.

 

 How many times has one blasted on a question to you in your school life: “What is your aim young man/woman?” or “What have you decided as your career son/sweetheart?” > And whenever that question bounces, a F4 Twister forms right inside your mind and you pray, that the person asking you could just vanish or die. I can still recall answering the same statement: “I haven’t thought anything as such yet”. And the wisely recommendation would follow: ” You should start thinking son, its high time”, and the conversation would end either me smiling at him and trying to look so damn confused or he starting to recommend me something, which I would never listen to.

But this is a very important point I guess. I took up science in my higher secondary, planning to do an engineering degree ahead. Ultimately I struggled for two years, and only because of a blessed soul and my fortunate friend, I passed my papers. When I dragged myself to the finals, I had already given up. I was an exhausted male, as if I had run the school for the last 12 years. I was more envious of my commerce friends whom I had never seen studying or tensed for a chemistry or a physics practical. If you have not laughed in a while, listen to this: I joined a B.Com(H) after torturing my poor little brain for two continuous years to relieve it. I was the laughing stock in psyche and amongst my friends. This was their comment: “You rugged you’re a** for two years, did not enjoy, kept crying the whole time, donated money to tutors (It was a donation, coz we never attended classes, yet paid them), flew whole country giving all crazy engineering exams, and then you finally land up in our land!”. It was all absolutely true. I was such a confused donkey. I did all that and now in college I was trying to Dr & Cr the Ca & Na my brain was used to! I felt there was no one in a worse situation than me. But I had one consolation, the fact that I had another friend of mine in the same animal state.

Ok, this was all for some fun in the blog. The bottom-line is, that it was not a such a sweet experience. Though I had the advantage of studying pure maths and knowing a bit of science that sometimes comes in handy. People generally tend to limit their options in India a lot. Possibly because the course options in our country are not so versatile. I have never heard anyone doing a Bachelors in Sports or Bachelors in Tourism, or Event Management. But these courses do exist. The key lies in identifying your true interest. I was in science for 2 years, but never enjoyed studying it which never produced good results for me. I switched to commerce and liked it better. My results improved over the time. Now I think picking commerce was a good decision for me. But you cant really play with these things. Lets be practical. The most common courses in India presumably are BCOM, BSC, BBA, BCA, MassComm, HomeSc. I have not heard of any other courses. Well I may be poor in information management, but I’m just talking general. As young students we do not have much information about each course. And we end up saying we’re confused. Always remember: Everyone is gifted with a special talent! We only have to realize that.

Well the remedy for that is trying to find out about these courses and many more new ones. You never know where you land up! INTERNET (My Best Friend) has now privileged us to find out about them. I don’t have to mention it actually because the trend is changing gradually. Students have become more advanced, extroverts, and do a lot more research before stepping into a course. Education agents, career counselors giving free information in schools and organizing road camps or events have further contributed. So being aware, and looking for options is a very healthy way of keeping track of latest develpoments and will help you take a decision, wisely, and trust me you’ll be a lot happier. Also look forward speaking to wiser people and experienced students or elders. They can be your best guides. You cannot expect your parents to be the only source or guide. They are less informed about the current education system in our age. So think, act and learn!