The Shift in Perspective
I have always been a dreamer.
My life has been a series of building dreams according to my circumstances, and when they broke, I never gave up. I have always had this deep-seated hunger—I refuse to be caged within four walls; I want to soar in the open sky. I don’t just want a degree; I want to stand on my own two feet.
My friend Manvi and I were inseparable. Right after our 12th-grade exams, the future started weighing on us. I asked her, "Manvi, what’s the plan? Where are you heading for college?" She played it cool, acting completely oblivious, and said, "I don’t know yet, ask my parents." But we both knew the truth—her father had everything planned, and she was just putting on an act. I knew my fate too, but I stayed silent, keeping my thoughts to myself.
The very next day, I went to Manvi’s house. Her mom and a cousin sister were there. The sister looked at me and immediately pointed out, "Kavya, why are you getting so thin?" Then came the dreaded question about my future. I told them with confidence that I wanted to pursue a B.A. When the sister asked where, Manvi’s mother immediately interjected, "She’ll go to the same college Manvi is joining."
Honestly? It felt stifling. I couldn't help but speak up, "Why is everyone so against B.A.? Is there no career in it? Is it just a degree for the unemployed?" The room went silent. When the sister suggested I just stay in the village, I stood my ground: "There isn’t quality education here. If I really want to make something of myself, I have to go out. That’s where the real learning is."
Then the spotlight turned to Manvi. She said she’d do B.Com and prep for banking. The sister praised her endlessly, and watching that, it struck me how society still treats degrees like mere formalities.
But then, I remembered a story my sister once wrote. It was about a girl on a train who met another girl heading for her UPSC exams. The first girl wanted to be a writer but gave it up for a "stable" career. The UPSC aspirant smiled and said, "My parents wanted me to follow a traditional path too, but I made sure to build my career first. Today, I am a professor, and I use my weekends to live my passion for writing."
That was my "Aha!" moment. I realized that becoming a professor would be my shield. It would give me the financial freedom to write without any pressure. I’ve decided—I’m going to study hard, become a professor, and secure my independence. That way, I can finally fly in my open sky, with no one to clip my wings.
