Qualifying for a medical college may have, at some point, been important for you, but all is not lost if you have failed to do so.
When I chose PCB after my tenth boards, I was oblivious to the vast number of courses that are available. Medical and engineering were all I had heard of. I had heard only the parents of children pursuing these fields boast about them and swell up in pride while doing so. That was all that mattered. Our parents had paid for our education, it was the time they got a profit from that investment.
I was also pretty good in academics, as are many. So, expectations were high for me. I was supposed to be the torch bearer to the family name.
So, I followed where the herd was going. I took the test for qualifying into coaching institutes that would then coach me for getting into a medical college. I got selected for one. I enrolled myself in a school where attendance wasn't necessary for senior secondary and left home for the first time.
I prepared as well as I could. I realised midway that I was no better than a mediocre student. But you see, I had to make my parents feel proud. There must have been something I wasn't doing correctly. Why else would I be different from the toppers?
I kept beating myself over it. I developed an inferiority complex because no matter what I was doing, my marks wouldn't budge. However, I was optimistic and so I sat for the entrances for the first time.
I still remember that morning. After the exam, I realized I won't be able to qualify.
I texted my dad, "I am sorry." I cried.
I failed to clear NEET in my first attempt.
I was depressed and heartbroken. That was a hard slap of reality. No matter how much you expect it, you will never be prepared for this.
In all honesty, that was the time to sit back and analyse what had gone wrong. Was it my slack attitude? Or if the course simply wasn't for me?
But I was in denial. I had to prove myself. I had to uphold the family name.
So, I prepared for it again.
I failed and then failed a third time again at NEET.
It was then I realised that I had to stop. Something was going wrong. I had wasted three essential years of my life and had nothing to show for it. I had to sit down and retrospect.
And although it hurt, I realised medical wasn't the field for me.
This is the hardest part. Coming to terms with reality, facing your own self. But this is the most important one too.
I realised I couldn't memorise things. I was doing well in physics and physical chemistry. But biology and inorganic & organic chemistry made it hard for me.
So, I chose a field more suited to my skills- Bachelors in Pharmacy.
I will be honest; my parents aren't that boastful of my achievements. I'm still recovering from the effect of all those failures. There are nights when I still wonder whether I did something wrong.
But, at least now my life is not stagnant. It's moving somewhere, and that's more important. I know I will figure it out along the way.
You have to be aware of what you are really capable of doing, along with wishing to excel in life and making your parents feel proud. Sachin Tendulkar can't solve physics. That doesn't mean he is any lesser than those who can.
The world has never been as connected as it is now. You have all the information you need at your fingertips. Realise what you are good at, and research about it. Get all the information you can, and then pursue it relentlessly.
Maybe those nagging relatives won't agree with your choice. But they don't have to.
To sum up, I'll quote an excerpt from some guy who had failed to qualify for MIT (Massachusetts Institute of technology)-
"We are all waiting for a bus to reach somewhere. However, this one bus, in particular, is very good. It's quite fancy and everyone wants to board this bus. But obviously, everyone can't. And I wasn't able to, too. But it's alright. It's not my fault, there just wasn't enough seats on the bus. There are other buses. I can walk to where I am going. I will crawl if I have to, but I will be where I want to be."
Don't lose track of where you want to be because you missed a bus that could have taken you there. The bus isn't important. The destination is what counts.
Prateek Gautam
22 |
Manipal, Karnataka, India |
Second year, Bachelor of Pharmacy |
Content Creator intern at Konversations |
Certified web developer |
January 25, 2018
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