Choices...

“In the beginning, there never is much to worry about.” The professor’s calm, confidant voice cut through the attentive silence of the class.

“Quite literally, a world of opportunities awaits you. And considering the law of averages… all you need to do for success, is be a part of the vast majority. In the beginning, it’s significantly more difficult to fail… than be successful.”

Introductory lectures were never meant to be interesting. They were merely a way for students to gauge their new professors. If they were judged to be dull… or monotonous in their teaching styles, their class’s attendance took a beating. But this time… things weren’t proceeding how they were supposed to.

The new lecturer hadn’t been a part of the college for a very long time… and no one knew much about him. Yet… here he was in one of the premiere institutions of the city, addressing a group of students that contained the leaders of tomorrow.

The teacher smiled before continuing. “And then… the chaos that is life, sweeps us up in its merry dance and every definition changes.

“As we grow up… or at least start ageing ever so slightly, we begin to make choices. Foremost in our list of ever changing ambitions are the childhood dreams… usually of being astronauts or soldiers. They almost never pan out… and soon we mature enough to set ourselves realistic targets.

“As we enter middle school and inch our inexorable way from shorts to trousers… our goals change. By now, we get to meet a few successful people in our personal worlds… and begin modeling our lives to achieve something similar to them. As a result… we spend an amusing few years saying things like, ‘I want to be an MBA.’

“Once we enter high school though, a modicum of seriousness finally seeps through our fanciful erstwhile dreams. We finally have to choose our subjects depending on what we want to be doing.

“And as we make those choices and move on… doors begin to close all around us. A student taking up computers has all options of later reverting to a commerce related career shut to him. A student choosing humanities can not come back to science at a future date. And suddenly… the wide open world… seems much narrower.

“There still isn’t much to worry about though. After all, the majority at this juncture still succeed. And so we enter college, the final phase of our academic journey.

“Most people breeze through college in the same way that they had sailed through school. And they all end up doing just fine. It’s the ones that don’t, who have problems heading their way.

“Some approach college as they would a buffet dinner. They expect things to be laid out for them… and all they have to do is choose what they want. If only life was that easy….

“Some others take college to be their last stab at enjoying a missing childhood, before professional life sets in. Ironically… this always gets in the way of their having a professional life at all. And a few others… do everything that’s in front of them… save the one task they were sent to do, get a degree. God bless those poor sodding fools.”

The professor made a solemn gesture towards the heavens, before shrugging as he resumed.

“Here… in this very class, there are people of each of those genres that I just mentioned. What you do during your time here… and what you do later on, are matters that would be of great interest to anyone who follows your careers. But not so engrossing as what the final type of students will be getting up to.

“There are those among you, who will soon realize, that this has been a mistake.”

The students looked puzzled, each sure in their minds that there hasn’t been a mistake… at least not for them. They knew what they wanted when they decided to be a part of this class… of this institution. There was no doubt that this was the right path to walk down.

The professor probably sensed the unspoken dissent and smiled.

“Not now… not while you are still fresh faced and keen minded. But give it time… all it’ll take are a few tough assignments, or a couple of poor results, and doubt will pour in. And pretty soon, some of you’ll finally realize… how much better off you would have been in that other class across the campus. The question is… what will you do then?

“Abroad… now things wouldn’t look so bleak over there. You can always shift streams anytime you want. But in a nation as overrun with competition as ours, it will not be that easy. No matter what you want to change to after your miserable term in this department… the transition will be difficult.

“Even apart from the barrage of questions to figure out the ‘whys’ of your desired change, there will be the trouble of getting the change to actually happen. Hardly anyone else is going to be looking to shift gears… so wherever you go… you’ll be a curiosity, a freak. Very few places even have provisions for a color changing chameleon to be incorporated in their ranks… preferring to deal with straight students who haven’t immigrated from unknown waters.

“And so, your struggle with a hostile world will begin in earnest.”

He paused and took a long look at the students around him.

“Why am I telling you all this when it’s too late for it to matter already? It’s because I have a theory. I believe every man is unique… and as a result has his or her unique niche.

“Mass produced jobs and career options, while vaguely satisfying to the general populace… fail to satisfy even one person entirely. Everyone needs something a little different from his fellows… otherwise we would have been knee deep in grey overalls and indistinguishable Volvos. Most of you will be content in plodding on along the factory made career you’ve chosen. But the few to whom this will become unbearable… they are the ones who will break away and do something new. Provided they don’t starve on the streets first though. That’s always a risk.”

He clapped his hands to signal the end of the class and beamed at the students.

“Welcome to ‘Architecture-101’. The ones among you who’ll stick with us for the next five years… it’s good to have you here. The ones who won’t… well… I wish them good luck. I hope you do well.”

As the professor swept away and the class got to their feet muttering among themselves… I sat in the corner and stared out of the window lost in thought. Had I made a mistake?