What you are about to read are the musings of an eighteen year old boy who has experienced almost nothing in life other than the innocence and truthfulness in real friendship.These are the scribbles of a busy student when he finds time to express his thoughts through pen and paper.
Every person in life faces a large multitude of complications in his fight to survive and achieve something. We see several people everyday who believe that they are the victims of the biggest problems known to mankind. Some people who are not brave enough look upon suicide as an option for relief from these problems whereas others give in to the enticing vices like smoking and alcohol.
Problems are an integral part of life. What we need to do in the face of problems is change our point of view. I would like to use the following quote here. "We do not see the world as it is. We see the world as we are." So a problem is just the perception of a situation as a hassle by us. When we believe the problem is a big one the severity appears multiplied. Take the example of an exam. The same examination to a child is “Three hours before holidays” and to a college student is “A matter of life and death with the results influencing his future” All that matters is the point of view. I agree that one must consider a problem as s potential challenge and must take it seriously but we have to realize that no problem is big enough to even consider ending our life.
In Bhagvad Gita, it says… The work you do is in your hands but the result is not in ours. To explain we are supposed to face a problem and do our best to solve it irrespective of the probable result. One should never give up in the face of adversity but continue to fight against all odds till he emerges victorious. We must either achieve it or die trying but avoid half hearted attempts.
A content person does not have fear of problems. To be truly contended one does not need to be free of worries but he should have belief in himself and god that he can find a solution that puts him in a favorable position in life.Trust creates confidence and confidence provides a solution. So trust yourself before giving up.
Today the most debatable topic that comes to our mind is the sweet wonderful relation of love. Love is a feeling which fills your life with glorious sunshine and brightens your very soul. It is an emotion which accepts even the harshest insults without comlaints and never demands anything in return. Love cannot be defined by specific criteria as its love if he/she behaves in a particular manner with you and its not if they behave otherwise. True love finds solace in the smile of the loved one even if it means he/she has to cry for the other's smile. Those who truly are in love find the achievements of him/her far more blissful than their own. Those who have to sacrifice their love or have been betrayed by their loved ones are acquainted with misery which is unbanishable though he/she expends his/her best efforts to drive it away. We comfort ourselves that atleast the other person is happy this way and try not to interfere in their happy life to end our misery. Love is an unconditional feeling, an unimaginable relation , an unparalleled emotion and an unforgettable experience.
Most teenagers cannot differentiate good friendship from love. True friendship also shares similar warmth in their relationship, but it stays within certain limits which are mutually known to us. Love takes the person for granted and leads to innumerable problems and strife unlike friendship which hurts no one and heals even broken hearts betrayed in love. Good friends are often mistaken that their intimate relation is love , this leads to countless problems and thousands of unshed tears leaving two highly confused people who no longer have the courage to try being freinds lest they lose control over their emotions and get entranced by the care and affection of the other. Friendship, if is led towards love by two innocent ignorant individuals, remember.. its a one way road. You either gain a wonderful lover or alternately and sadly lose a true friend.. I would like to cite a few quotes by famous personalities.... "A boy and a girl can never be friends forever" By William Shakespeare "Friendship is the starting step for what we call love" By Abraham Lincoln "Proposing a boy or girl for friendship is indirectly saying I LOVE YOU" By Wordsworth "If one can become your best friend, then he or she can easily become your life partner" By Michael Jackson Some people just realise their sweet relation is just eternal friendship.Those are true friends who will never break apart whatever may happen.
The common mistake done by teenagers is succumbing to peer pressure of having a girl friend or lover. Some take it as a status symbol and expend their energy and time trying to have a girl friend so as to fit in with their "Gang" of friends. This is a clear display of immaturity letting their hormones decide for themselves. This hormonal feeling labelled attraction is incomparable to love and those who have done this mistake can never forgive themselves in life and lead a sorrow filled life which has learnt by experience. Life is a pretty cruel thing as it tests us first and teaches a lesson afterwards.
So in short if you think you are in love take your time and decide before making a hasty decision.
Today's students are the future citizens of the country. Their endeavors, achievements and accolades serve their purpose by bringing honor to their motherland. But to achieve anything the student must develop a broader point of view towards the world and their life.
What we see today in our country are hordes of students running an endless race with their compatriots vying for better marks rather than trying to gain knowledge and information which would serve a thousand-fold better in empowering them as citizens of the country than marks ever can. The advent of corporate educational institutes have made education a commercial business which is mercilessly exploited by the enterpreneurs in the guise of school and college administrators who target huge sums of fees and donations from gullible parents who try to give their child quality education. Today the quality of a college means the number of toppers it produces rather than the style of teaching or the knowledge that is provided. Faculty is trained to make the students learn things by memorizing rather than understanding.
What disturbs us most is the attitude of parents towards this educational system. A student who fails to achieve the expected milestone is treated as scum by most though thankfully not not all parents and considered worthless. It comes as no surprise that we see many student suicides concerning poor academic outcome in our country as compared to other nations. Today a student bears more mental strain than a busy corporate employee and he learns to live with it. If not he is left behind in the race to nothingness. Parents always compare their child with someone who achieved more than him/her resulting in mental depression and loss of self confidence. Those who achieve marks are considered great and prodigious but they prove to be empty shells when they are put to the test of fire....ie education in Foreign countries. Most of the so called prodigies who learn how to get marks rather than trying to gain knowledge end up failures after emigrating to foreign countries save a few who have truly proved their mettle. The precious few who are really well equipped with the skill and knowledge find their motherland too backward for their taste and shift to developed countries like America aiming at personal gain rather than trying to work here and help in our nation's progress.
The education system should aim at an open minded way of teaching which involves interactions, discussions, innovation and practical wisdom. Our dream of seeing a developed India can only be achieved by these youngsters who represent our democracy tomorrow. If not we will continue to remain a developing nation for many years to follow with no hope of betterment and development. Hopefully it won't be long before we set our priorities right and aim at empowerment of students with the powerful weapon of knowledge before its too late....
Today in this rapidly changing world we are leading lives preoccupied in mundane human issues of no particular significance barely noticing the ticking clock which signifies the dwindling time we have in this world. Life is biologically the physical and mental existence of an organism but for an idle brain life gives many definitions.
What is life?? What is the purpose of life?? A goal?? A destination?? This train of thoughts usually runs through our mind when we allocate time to contemplate about life. But is any goal worth missing the pleasures of life such as friendship and love??
These questions can be answered by no one but the lord almighty himself who created us and sent us into this world.
An ideal life consists of the following ingredients-
1. Achievements
2. Friendship
3. Nature
4. Love
Achievements- This is the most commonly sought element of life. Starting from a school going kid to someone on their deathbed, everyone strives to achieve something or the other. Success brings recognition and fame. The only way to be remembered even after death is to earn recognition.Many people miss the other components of life working towards their goal in life only to realize it’s too late to experience the other colors of life. Those who successfully achieve something are remembered in history for their sacrifice and dedication towards their respective goals in life. But sadly many spend their entire life trying to achieve something sacrificing a lot in life to end up in failure.
Friendship- This is one of the two cherished components of life. It is a bond formed between individuals of mutual trust, respect and care.It is a relation hard to describe in words. It’s something to be felt from within. It’s a unique feeling which one experiences in the early stages of life. It’s of great regret to realize that most of us, after reaching a particular stage in our life, lack the time even to recollect these happy moments.
Nature- A small child admires with wonder and awe the colors of a rainbow or the beautiful butterflies flitting around flowers seeking the nectar within. Once one reaches adulthood he barely finds any interest or time to enjoy these beautiful creations of almighty and tries to find scientific reasons for every such miracle. It is when one achieves his goal he/she realizes the cost at which thy have achieved it and what they have missed in life.
Love- Hmmm… this is the most difficult relation to explain. It’s a passionate emotion which imparts a sense of elation in humans. Love doesn’t only stand for the attraction between two members of the opposite sex but also includes the affection between parents and children, siblings and friendship. It enables us to give up anything in life for the sake of our loved ones. It s a wonderful feeling which cannot be easily understood by someone who has never experienced it. It’s something to be perceived and cherished.
All these constituents together form a complex phenomenon we call LIFE.
FOOTNOTE- What I have written above are the brighter side of those elements. Every one of them has a negative edge too. Many cases of lives being ruined by bad companionship and love are known to us. As the saying goes,” The grass is greener on the other side of the fence.” So, after giving the ingredients of a happy successful life I try to take a shot at defining life as “An intricate web of intermingling relationships and phenomena which has no steady course but is blown by fate to whatever lies in store ahead resembling a boat without oars in the wide vast ocean.”
Day 1- This day like many others dawned bright and clear but this was one of the most important days in my life. It was my first day at college. I was brimming with excitement and methodically dressed myself in an exquisite outfit only to find the seniors in complete dissent to my attire. The classes were the usual affair starting with shy smiles and introductions in barely audible voices among the students followed by introductions to the faculty. Lunch was a memorable affair involving SO CALLED interaction with seniors which turned out to be a real show with us juniors running around the canteen following orders from seniors ending up as waiters ourselves rather than students. It was during such interaction sessions that I found true friends who would stand by me irrespective of what I would achieve in life.
The evening comprised of in depth chats with friends about interaction in their respective colleges and hasty fibs told to parents about the stringent anti ragging laws laid out in the college.
Sports- Excluding a week prior to the examinations, the rest of the time is ultimate bliss and freedom to a student wholly at his disposal to exploit according to his whims and fancies. Most guys indulge in sporting activities to burn the extra calories and gain some muscle and it doesn’t hurt if the girls come over to watch you play. Most of us have never indulged in sporting activities earlier in life and they explore this new avenue with renewed vigor and zeal. Sporting events are exuberant affairs involving rivalry among seniors and juniors starting with polite handshakes and freshly made friendships and ending with die hard friends on your side.
Cell phone- It forms an integral part of the student world. It’s a man made boon to the student community. You can hardly see a student these days without a cell phone rapidly clicking away messages at lightning speed. It is a useful accessory, particularly during a boring lecture or in lonely moments to lift our spirits. These cell phones are the main culprits in causing sleepless nights to students resulting in bleary eyed drowsy students sleeping in classes.
Attendance- It’s an ever diminishing aspect of medico’s life. Try as he may it never rises above the required seventy percent except for a precious few who consider any moment outside the classroom or library as a moment wasted. Mass bunks are a characteristic feature involving a collective holiday taken by the students to make sure no attendance is taken. It’s a constant battle that ensues between a medico and the attendance register which often goes down to the wire with the student winning it by a whisker approaching the end of the year.
Exams- The week preceding the exams is the best time to evaluate the stamina and mental capacity of a medico. It consists of hasty overviews of important questions, frequent consultations with seniors concerning the upcoming exams, sleepless nights and most importantly, the cell phone, which was an integral part of the student till now, lies shunned and stripped of all glory in a dark silent corner of his room. Several students have hysterical outbreaks and nightmares regarding the exams. The day preceding the exam involves night outs in the library and group discussions and in some cases, reverent prayers to every god known to mankind concerning a positive result.
Compared to all the ado and drama preceding the examination, the exam in itself is an uneventful affair which passes off with most students rapidly scribbling away and a few staring listlessly into space whiling away time till the end of the examination.
Seniority- Being a senior gives a sense of euphoria and satisfaction to the student. I remember how I felt when I first became a senior. It was like nothing could ever go wrong in my life. I had immense pleasure seeing juniors address me as “SIR” and recollecting fond memories of myself and my friends as juniors watching these new entrants huddled together in groups and missing the homely atmosphere. After a few formal interactions we befriended them and made sure they felt at home imagining our younger siblings in them and cherishing fond memories.
This in brief is the life of a medical student. Hope you liked it. Please comment or mail me at phanisamosa@gmail.com. Thank you.
