Question One...

The final examination paper was right before me. First question : Write an essay on any one of the three topics in about 250 to 300 words.

 

The first topic was related to safety and first aid, which was completely out of question for me. The second was something about the worst situation that has ever taken place with me. Nope! Didn’t ring any bells at all! But the third topic… well, that caught my attention.

 

Question. What do you want to do for a career?

 

Answer. I’m in 8^th grade. First I wanted to be a super model. Then, a successful singer. Then, an actress. Then a photographer, then a writer, then a UNICEF representative. This is only what I WANT to have for a career. I’m interested in a whole lot of other things. Styling a celebrity, Greek Mythology, the past and the future, magic, writing, myth, dreams, stars, planets, celestial bodies, water, air, colours, designing clothes, interior designing, acting, astronomy/astrology, researching on unusual topics, psychology, human and child behavior, art, art direction, mystery, CID, investigation, fairy tales, superstitions, and a whole lot of other things.

 

Out of these, I have no way to choose what I want to do. I want to do... everything at a go! People say that I have to be focused in what I want to do.  It scares me. Science subjects are interesting, and I’m good at them. Arts subjects are very interesting and I am as good in them too. My calculative intelligence is on a below-average status. Many people have suggested for me to try out St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, which is the best known College in India. For entering St. Stephens, my school results need to be exceptionally good. And to have good results, I need to be focused on the one thing which I want to do. I often get the example of my aunt (who is like a sister to me) because she is successful and has always known what she has to do. 

 

It’s really frustrating, especially when you have people around nudging you to take mathematics as a subject for your senior studies, (and those nudging are your near and dear family members) and there is no Humanities group in your academic institution. So you are compelled to take science subjects, even if you don’t want to go in a medical line.

 

It seemed pretty easy when I had goals like being a singer or a super model, and I took them seriously. Still living in my fantasy world. But as seventh grade passed, the doorway to that fantasy world began to close. And I didn’t realize that it would be the last year for really having fun. As I entered 8^th grade, it was like a nuclear bomb.

 

 Boom! Welcome to the world of being practical and thinking about the future. Oh! And your past full of beliefs and fairy tales and fun? We just sealed the door to that!

 

So, I don’t really have an answer to questions like ‘What do you aim for in life?’ or ‘What do want to do when you grow up?’. All I really know, is that I’ll do my best to try out EVERYTHING while I still have the time. So that I’ll really know what I want to do when the right time comes, when the final hour arrives. That’s all I know. 

Author's Note

This is not really a story, but there wasn't any option for essays, so I had to write it as a story. Just some thoughts on what I want to do in life. This story is true, and not one thought is made up in the essay. I really have all this going on in my head right now and I have no clue of what I'm going to do.

Reviews

[TL Boehm]

I wanted to be a veterinarian from 4th grade through my sophomore year of high school when I flunked geometry. Then I decided I would be a rock musician since I wrote poetry, and played a couple of instruments. Sigh. I went to college for a couple of years, got a job, got married, had kids, went back to college and now I am an accountant. I did however at the encouraging of wonderful people here at the Cafe - publish a novel in 2008. So even though I am in my 40's I still want to be "something" when I grow up. I am working on six different novels now and I write poetry. Its ok to have lots of dreams. It keeps you going.

[Aehr]

Dreams are awesome :-)

[Coyote Poetry]

A very interesting story. Being young and many things on your mind. Hard to pin down thoughts and actions. When you are young. I tell the young people. Enjoy life and do your best. Life is long and we will make a thousand mistakes. I hope you did good on your report.
Coyote

[Aehr]

my maths report, sir?
I have my maths paper tomorrow, and I'v done to my level. I hope I do okay :)

[Zainab UF]

Trust me, this dilemma is going to get worse as you grow up. I'm in Plus One and I have no clue what I'm going to do. But I'm pretty clear on what I'm NOT going to do: medicine, engineering, IAS, anything related to maths/physics.

Sometimes it's good to be a rebel. You can't always dance to your parents' and relatives' tunes - it's your life to live and you have to make the decisions. This will sound extremely cliched, but "Follow your heart" is the only advice I've to give you.

I really loved the way you asserted yourself in the last paragraph. Good luck, and keep writing!

[Aehr]

okay.. this is weird, but what you're NOT going to do, is exactly what I'm NOT going to do as well! lol :P thanks...

[Zainab UF]

Nice to know that there are people straying off the beaten path. :)

[Aehr]

lol :P

[Layla J Omorose]

I hated those question essays lol this brings back memories

[MOON]

The world is yr oyster, hard to choose. Good write

[GunMetal]

Perhaps asking what it is you want as a career isn't about you knowing what you want, so much as it is about making you think about it. A goal it seems to have accomplished very well. Thanks for letting us in your head for a while.

[Aehr]

lol.. welcome...

[deepblue04]

It's good, I really hope that you can figure out what you want to do.. To tell you the truth, I ddnt knw what to do until my junior year of high school.

[Aehr]

I can understand. I'm just so confused right now! See, some people don't know what they want to do because they aren't really interested in anything. And the others don't know what to do because they are interested in too many things! Well, I belong to the second group! :) Thanks anyway!

[deepblue04]

I was too

[Aehr]

Then.. I can TOTALLY understand!

[deepblue04]

Yeah, especially since i was good at soo many things!!

[Aehr]

its exactly the same case as me

[deepblue04]

Well... I wish best of luck on it

[Aehr]

thanks again!

[Abbie]

I like your story essay thingy....(I don't really know what to call it) XD anyways, I get your point. People always telling you to know what you want to do and be perfect at it. I think I know what I want to be, but I don't really know. I mean, I'm only 13! give me a break! let me think it over people! :P anyway, great write and I will continue reading your work! :D

[Aehr]

thanks abbie

[Abbie]

your welcome! I thought it was great! :)

[Autumn]

Hahah jeez, it brings back so many memories during the exams periods! Scary moments!
This "kinda story" is very well writen and very true!

[Aehr]

thank you!

[AK]

Oh lord! Don't remind me:) eighth grade sorta crushes everything but /education/ doesn't it? Haha, I'm on the same boat, I have no idea what I want to be myself... Let's hope the fog clears up and I see a path soon! I loved the depth and wisdom in this piece. Keep writing!

[Aehr]

yep.. I can completely understand what you are feeling. *Sigh* I wish I could go back in time to 7th grade. It was the best year of my life! Yea!!! We're on the same boat, lol.

[AK]

I agree. Seventh was surely the best year of my life:) everything was perfect. Hey! Are you going to write the ntse exam this year?

[Aehr]

what's the ntse exam?

[AK]

National talent search examination. It is an exam which an Indian student can take in the second week of novemeber when they are in eight standard. If you get through the state level cut off, then you are eligible to write the national level exam. And if you pass this too, you become an ntse scholar which is a great privilege and you might even get direct admission in many colleges.

[Aehr]

oh that's interesting... do they introduce it in your school? I'll write an application to the Principal if they do.

[AK]

Well, we get trained to write that exam. Like they teach us the type of questions that will be asked, how to answer them, practise modules, work books, study material and stuff like that. I guess you could try asking your principal. Something which you shouldn't miss.

[Aehr]

oh.. actually, i've never heard of that taking place in my school. its really nice they train us for that exam...

[AK]

Yes:)