Log Kya Kahenge agar yeh bhi mai hi sochunga toh Log Kya Sochenge?!
By: Helen Thomas Elenjikkal
Tags: Happiness, Inspiration, Self Love, Life, Freedom

If he would have ever cared about people’s concerns around him, he would never have reached the position where he is today. He would have been working in a Corporate committing to something he has never dreamt of in his life.

I have seen many parents forcing their children to opt for Medicine and Engineering to show that they are capable of providing the best education in the world in front of the society. They take up loans to send their children abroad. They take up loans to 26 and 30 lakhs and send them to Canada, Australia, Newzealand, and Ireland so that they could prove their financial soundness and capability in front of the society not realizing they are going to be judged for overspending rather than providing proper education to kids.

I had come across a similar situation in life. English and Communication being my favorite subjects, I applied for Bachelors in Journalism, Literature and Communication. It was a Triple Main course. My parents were supportive of my decision. My joint family consisting of my grandparents and cousins were completely against my decision of choosing this course.

My grandfather even said:

What good is English going to bring her? It wouldn’t even give her a proper career. Marry her off right after completing her degree.

I was devastated hearing his remark but never gave up on my desire for Literature, Journalism, and Communication.

It was true that at that point I had no choice of career in my mind. I just loved Literature, Communication, and Journalism but didn’t think much about what after that. My decision didn’t fall flat. I passed out with 90% marks and I was the 5th MG University Rank Holder.

My achievements didn’t cease there. I had a module on Public Relations and Corporate Communications during my degree. Soon I grew fond of this subject and started researching about the best media institutes in the country. Xavier’s Institute of Communications striked me as it is one of the finest institutes in India offering Public Relations and Corporate Communications. After completing my Bachelors, I applied, gave my Online Entrance Exam, gave my interviews, and got into Xavier’s.

Again I had an army of people against me saying that its a Post Graduate Diploma Course. People including my Professors advised me to take up Masters saying I have good potential to flair in my studies. I calmed them saying that after my PG Diploma I would surely do Masters in a subject that is relevant then. Another reason they had is that I come from a financially sound family and I could effortlessly go abroad to complete my higher studies.

It was the best decision in my life. I completed my course within a year and got into Siemens even when my friends were doing the second year of their Masters. I was delighted. People around me were in search of jobs even at the age of 30 and there I was working in a Multinational Company at the age of 21 with a fat salary package, that every fresher dream of in life.

My grandfather who asked my father to marry me off after completing my degree boasts about my achievements to my relatives. He keeps stressing the point that I am working in a German company. I don’t entirely feel pleased about the way he is proud of me as once he was hopeless in the decision I took in life.