Start Thinking

In this highly competitive world, more often than not we find ourselves being part of the rat race, running around without having a clear understanding of the end goal.

An average Indian depends on their parents to make important career decisions. This generally starts once someone enters standard VIII. The famous one line guidance by parents to their children is

“Padai kar lo, 10th main ache marks le aao phir toh life ban gayi tumhari”

“Study hard for your 10th standard, score well, and you have a flying career”

With this one liner motivation or threat (whatever you want to name it), three years are spent slogging around mathematics, sciences, social studies, English and other language problems.

No matter what is the result of the standard X board exam is, the next set of advice invariably is..

“Bas 2 saal ki aur padai hai, phir toh duniya tumhare kadmon main hogi”

“Two years of hard work and world will be at your feet”

Students start slogging for two more years in schools, tuitions. Competition among students is not in a game of cricket, but on the number of hours one studied yesterday or in the last week. One is more concerned about one’s marks in a tuition test rather than the next weekend plans.

Post the XII standard board and the entrance exams, we start making plans about

“What next in college?”

After having studied so hard we are no more interested in studies at least for some time. All one wants is to enjoy and chill around in college with plans, making plans to woo the opposite sex, endless planning for making a girlfriend/ boyfriend. Neither are we in mood to listen to our parents nor are they interested in asking us to study more (thank god for once sense prevails). All we want is to have back what has been lost in the tiring five years of studies.

Slowly and steadily as the initial charm of college tends to fade, do we start thinking about:

“What are we up to in life?”

The answer to this question is always complex and generally we are never clear of our aim in life. (To all those who think, earning money is the ultimate goal, I pity you. It never is and it will never be)

So ya, we were at this juncture of deciding about what are we up to in life. I can bet most of us think we are not knowledgeable enough to decide what should our future be, and so enters our next set of mentors- “our college seniors”. You are sure that they are much more intelligent and have lots of wisdom to take decisions and hence they take the role of your career shapers.

We so easily discount the fact that they were at our place a year back and just have as much of understanding as was passed on to them by their seniors and so the legacy continues. Just sit down and analyze the kind of career options they will think for you, invariably most of them will ask you to run away from your current career track and switch to something which is more rewarding (MBA, settle abroad) or something where you get more power (IAS, state admin services).

For once, take a step back and think on your own as to what you want to achieve in life?

You and only you can decide what is good for you and what is not. Don’t let your parents or teachers or seniors play the role of decision makers, just restrict them to the role of counselors. Think on your own, decide on your own but don’t shy away from discussing your issues with other. The more people you interact with, broader will be the set of opinions that you will get. Once you are clear of the goal analyze the ways in which you can achieve that goal. Do think whether your current career track in line with your ultimate goal, if not, then how can you make a seamless transition to align your career track with your goals.

Nevertheless, Constructive thinking is what is required to take sound decisions, but don’t immerse yourself too much in your future that you once again stop living your present.

Enough of gyaan now

“Sit back on your couch, play your favorite music and start making your next weekend plans”

You have a lot to think mate:

• The new movie around
• Weekend hangout with friends
• The girl/ guy next door
• And your career n life in general

Till we meet next..

Start thinking..

Adios

Image Courtesy: http://www.potlee.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/thinking.jpg