To find yourself, think for yourself
Standing
at the balcony of her bungalow, Rachna’s eyes were strained because she had
been searching for a streak of light in this darkness but scarcely could she
perceive anything or any ray of hope.
She
raised her only child with an expectation that he would also become a physician
like his parents. Alas! It was not going to happen like this.
It
was stormy weather, relentlessly raining outside; sometimes the sound of
thunderstorm frightened her, she sensed that it crawled inside her. She knew that the bond with parent and child is always incredibly strong, and
unfortunately, we often have the most tension with those whom we love and care
for the most. How do lots of conflicts exist between parent and child, even
once those children have grown to adults? These conflicts can cause much stress
and unhappiness, where the child feels unaccepted or never good enough for the
parent's standards. Usually, there are many misconceptions, as parents often
want the best for their children. Regardless, misunderstandings can lead to conflict
nothing else.
Raj's parents were surgeons and they also
wished that he should also follow them. But how could it have happened when he
had different passions and goal in his life? They had to accept and understand
his perspectives and his point of views. He was really upset about the incident
happened last night.
“I am going to
take admission in humanities”, suddenly Raj spoke with firmness while eating
his dinner attentively. He knew what would be the next question of his mother,
so he was ready with
his answer.
“Why?” Rachna could not suppress her emotion; looked
at him anxiously.
“I want to be an arts graduate.” Raj was more rigid
in uttering those words.
Rachna was well acquainted with the nature of her
child. Once he determined to do something, he would do at all cost.
“What would be your future, then?” her voice
shivered thinking of his uncertain life.
“Don’t worry, I will prove myself. I spoke to my
teacher today. She appreciated me a lot and accepted my views which strengthened
my confidence,” taking a sip in a glass, he continued, “Now, you allow me to do
so.”
Rachna stared at his father, munching the last
delicacy insatiably, who was always clueless, never liked to do any kind of
interference in someone’s life.
“See Raj, you are brought up as a free thinker, you
are free now also to choose your own way….” Rachna felt a sense of helplessness
as it was unexpected; hardly had she thought her child would choose humanities.
Undoubtedly,
Raj made his parents stunned.
Raj’s result of grade X was about to be
declared. He was the only son of his parents who were the famous surgeons of
the city. They had obviously a dream about their son to be a successful
doctor.
After this statement of
Raj, the parents had to spend a few sleepless nights.
But finally, they decided
to give Raj his freedom of choice of career after discussing with him his
future plans.
His parents rightly have
their peace of mind that they allowed their son to live his life in his own way
at the cost of their noble desire.
It's true that education
can develop one's mind to think freely and that kind of freedom in and of
itself is invaluable. All this can be developed when students approach their
studies freely, can think rationally without fear of future or greed of some
kind. So freedom for a student means freedom from fear, greed, weaknesses and
100% attention on developing long-term skills.
Harmony @ Billabong High International School, Thane
- Abira Chakraborty, Pooja Khona, Bhumika Ailsinghani, Rajshri Rane, Soniya Kuril, Poonam Choudhary, Kavita Shetty