Remember the engineering kid in the 3-Idiots movie whose project idea got rejected, and he committed suicide? Sadly, he was strumming his guitar before death and singing the song “Sari umra hum ..mar ke ji liye ..kuch der jine do”. Well, 90s kids faced a similar life paradox when choosing a career while studying in the 10th or 12th grade. Because in the Indian education system, a long rat race awaits every kid after passing out. As 90s kids, we had two choices: becoming engineers or doctors. Most kids who opted for science in the 12th standard faced the same issue. We had to choose a career. We had little idea of what to expect from the respective professions. The challenges that awaited us and the opportunities we would meet were unclear. It was mind-boggling.
The early bird gets the ultimate price. This thought process is deeply rooted in every parent’s psyche. So they prepare their wards for the life race early in their school days. Some students prepare for the IIT-JEE exam at an early stage, like in classes 7-8. Indian Parents, specifically during the 90s, took the concept of Beginner’s luck very seriously.
The principle of beginner’s luck suggests that the first initiative is often more likely to succeed. This can happen despite potential drawbacks. In another way, it’s like saying the term “going with the flow.”
You question why Indian parents compel their kids to study hard. They often make their children choose a career path very early, while still in 12th grade. The Indian middle-class dreams did the trick. Middle-class parents dream of financial prosperity. They also wish for a family’s social status to help them stand out among peers. The 90s economic reform paved the way for many opportunities. Parents who had many problems during their upbringing naturally wanted their kids to grasp every opportunity with both hands. That explains the parental pressure and peer pressure among the ’90s kids.
Many Indian households are fascinated by those who travel to the US, UK, or Germany. They admire individuals who go abroad for career growth. Being an NRI in a country like India is a privilege. Parents, relatives, and peers will talk highly of the lad’s progress and talk of them as an example. “Being settled down” is the alpha term for the ’90s kids and their parents. It’s the ultimate goal of every ’90s kid. The person who does it first is considered very lucky and highly respected. It’s not as if those who stay in India to work are less preferred or respected. Yet, the ’90s kids had a soft spot for working in foreign locations and earning in dollars.
Every ’90s kid forgets what they wanted to become in school. This happens when they chase a dream career in Engineering, medicine, UPSC, or public service. The dreams became memories, sometimes painful, and another lifetime’s daydream. Very few among us are brave enough to chase their childhood dreams and achieve contented success. After a career, pursuing a passion has now become the new norm.
Navigating from one activity to another needs patience, perfection, and determination. It’s debatable, though, how some people change the dynamics of career choice after studying a rigorous professional course. For example, the trend started with BTech Panipuri wala, MBA chaiwala, and many others. Many would criticize them for their educational background and career choices. But ultimately, it’s their life and what they want to do with it. Judging others for career choices is not advisable at all.
A few deserving students crack the IIT entrance exam. Then they clear the IIM entrance exam. Afterwards, they pursue careers as IAS officers. It always looks fantastic and tempting to most Indians, but one would question what happened to the engineering degree. Often, the education we get does not directly relate to the work we do for a living. There usually isn’t any direct analogy or link. The ’90s kids epitomize confused kids and jitteriness at its best, summing it up perfectly.
The Witty Stride 