JUST DO IT!

There comes a time in our life when we are given choices. We are uncertain, reluctant and in doubt.  We are afraid to take that one step. It could be about taking up that new job, getting into a relationship, moving to a new city.  It could be anything that requires us to give up what we know for what we might know. More often such choices occur in between “what we should do” and “what we want to do”. Usually when we are in such situations, we count on our experiences, talk to our friends and family and then, make that choice.  Sometimes we are happy with our choices and there are times when we wish to go back in time and undo the damage we might have caused ourselves. Nonetheless, life goes on and we have no way to find out what could have happened if we hadn't made that choice.

We all have made such choices. Yes, we have.

And today I am writing this blog to reflect upon some of the choices I’ve made, instinctively. As I write this, I realize that I am quite content and happy with my decisions and how they have changed the course of my life, for better.

Big Decision 1:

Study ARTS

-“Chori, timi k padhne?”

“Ma Arts padhne”

“Tyo ta padhai ma ekdam kamjor harule matra padcha, aru kei padha na.”

“Arts padhya? Kya sajilo hai talai ta.”

“Arts ta sajilo huncha nie. Science ani management padhi her na ani thaha paunchas.”

These are some very common reactions. Arts or Humanities as a subject is perceived to be for students who have no hopes to do anything significant in Science and Management stream.

Having scored 71% in S.L.C., I decided to study Arts despite being aware of the “stigma” attached to the subject. I had to convince my Mom and Dad that it wasn’t such a bad thing and that I could do something good in life by pursuing Arts. Two years of schooling in Haryana, India and I came out as a champion. I went on to score 91.2% in my final year’s board exam and the day results were announced still comes in my list of top three best days of my life. I did everything during those two years. I participated in all sorts of writing competition, dance competition, taekwondo and debate competition.

I did possibly everything that I hadn’t done in 10 years of my schooling. I enjoyed studying all the subjects and I had so much time and energy to do everything else that I liked to do. Except for the morning P.Ts, I can’t think of any such dull moment or boring activity during those two years of my high school. Most importantly, it made me confident of my ability to take decisions. To follow my instincts and take risks.

2: Become a teacher

Before I became a teacher, I was working as a full-time employee in a well established nongovernmental organization as a Program Officer. Had I continued in that position, I would have had some chances of increment in my monthly salary every one or two years, (less frequent but yes) travel opportunities, more chances of getting a job in a higher position in a higher paying organization. These were all a matter of chances but what I was certain of was the fact that if I didn’t become a teacher, I would regret it all my life. I would keep thinking maybe I could have been a good teacher. So, I just went on to become a teacher without much fear of consequences and thoughts on how such a drastic change in career would look in my CV.

Two years down the lane, as I stand and look back, I am exceedingly happy that I am a teacher. It gives me immense joy and satisfaction to have chosen to become a teacher. There isn’t a day when I wake up and feel terrible about the work I do or about the people I work with. I have no hard and fast rules to abide by, no desperate deadlines to meet, no one to prove to or compete with. I go to work every day with an intention of doing my lesson and doing it well. To be more kind and considerate and to be less mean, that’s all that I have to do. 

3: Food For Education

This wasn't a long planned thing. FFE was conceived over a lunch break. Anirudh and I knew we had to do something to make sure that the children didn't drop out of school. We weren't sure of who all would help us or if anybody would even consider helping us. We had no clue about how we we'd go about it. We knew we'd appeal for donations to our closest friends and family members but had no idea about how we'd collect it and where we would keep it. However, we started FFE with a simple status on our facebook profile and then one thing happened after another and everyday, we are making it possible. Providing a onetime meal to twenty children from poor families who want to go to school. 

FFE is a commitment. It's like being in a relationship. You wake up everyday and you know that someone is counting on you. There is a trust you carry, of so many people. You want to do more, everyday. You try to make someone's life better and make them hopeful of a brighter tomorrow. It's a choice we made. And we are happy with it and we are doing everything humanly possible to make these children happy. 

And if by any chance you are in a somewhat similar situation where you have to choose between what everyone else thinks is right and what you so strongly believe is right for you, do the latter. Your parents, family, relatives, society might condemn or it might involve a lot of risks and that you might fail in it but isn’t it good to try and fail than to never try and never know.

Make that choice. Take that step. 

Make mistakes. Learn. 

Fall down. Stand up. 

Take that leap forward. Jump. 

Just do it!