5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Inherit College Education from your Parents

"You have to study at XYZ College. I studied at XYZ College. Your grandfather studied at XYZ College…. Your great-great-great-grandfather studied at XYZ College.”

Modern Campus of Lovely Professional University

Does the above line sound somewhat familiar? Our parents often influence our decision of which college to attend and which profession to take up. We often end up following generic advice such as “engineering mein bada scope hai”. We are also pressured by our parents to study at a college or university near our house, so that we don’t have to go live at a hostel.

But times are changing, and career advice from parents is as good as a floppy disk (outdated and almost useless). When the time comes to make a life-defining decision regarding your career and education, people ask you “Kya Socha?” and also force their own opinions on you, rendering their question redundant. I’m not saying you shouldn't consider your parent’s advice. Of course you should take what they say into account, but you must also explore all other options. Your future is yours to decide.

The world has changed and while a university or college which advertises that it has been established in the 1800s may impress us initially, in the end of the day, we have to see how the education in a university will help us in our after-college lives. In fact recent years have proved that new universities such as LPU have produced the brightest graduates, who excel at whatever they put their mind to.

Here are 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Inherit College Education from your Parents:

1) Their advice is too outdated.

2) The old universities which have gained a reputation are not evolving with the changing times.

3) Their goals for you might not match your interests and aptitude.

4) Parents do not see that a college is more than just bricks, mortar and books. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities help develop your personality and give you the confidence you need to face the outside word.

5) It’s your life, and you must choose what path you want to take.

The decision of picking a college shapes the rest of a person’s lives, and thus, requires in-depth research and analysis. Therefore, it is high time you #thinkBIG and look at opportunities provided in universities such as LPU. You can request a campus visit here: http://www.lpu.in/about_lpu/how-to-reach-us.php 

If you aren't convinced yet, do check out this inspiring video by LPU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaQdCkNLtjU&feature=youtu.be

So when you are planning your education, make sure you #ThinkBig!

Real Togetherness...

Today almost 80% of population is busy in digitalization & enjoy staying alone with growing technology. I still remember when I used to be a kid and how badly I used to wait for rains & summer vacations in order to go out to play with my colony friends in our common colony garden.  

Nowadays I see gardens only for love birds and not for kids. You just can’t blame only to love birds for making it a place for romance; instead you can say that today’s kids are no more interested in playing outdoor games as they are always busy with their hectic schedule of education & technology.

Monotonous lives of today’s kids have spoiled their innocence of childhood and their childhood has been merged into a responsible candidate of tomorrow’s race.

Cyberspace has taken so much special place in everyone’s life that people even find their soul-mates on cyberspace. They get married online, they take divorce online and gradually they start living in online world rather than spending time with those who are with them in reality.

Nowadays kids play online games & uses tablets and it becomes their pass time in order to spend vacations. Instead of enjoying rains they protect their gadgets from rain and prefer to stay inside their home rather than being a part of nature.

It’s often been observed by me that there is nothing like which used to be when I was a kid.  There is no noise in public parks, there is no kid with dirty clothes and there is no kid with mischievous activities alongwith cute innocence.

I hardly see any kid or parent interacting together and asking or informing about their native roots.

I want back those old gardens which were full of noise of children. I want back that childhood which was the soul of every kid.

Well.. It’s not too late; we still can define the meaning of “Togetherness” once again. Once again we can start group activities for planting trees and protecting environment that also can develop a new definition of “togetherness” with our neighbors and children; which will become a new chapter for our children apart from their technological and hectic schedule of educational life. 

Nature can do it and we also can do it. Nature has always supported togetherness with us; now it’s our turn to share that togetherness with our future generations.

We should start a pace towards our environment in which we can plant trees and protect the disabled of our society. Indeed this would be the best worship of god and best token of respect and a humble way to say “Thank You” to our nature, our environment and future generation.  

Let’s bring that childhood back.

Let’s bring back that togetherness…

Let’s bring that innocence back!!

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For more info, go to: http://www.kissanpur.com/

Moments of Happiness with Mom

There seems to be a new trend developing in parenting. The broad gap between parents and friends is slowly narrowing. Many modern parents have adopted the “buddy parenting” strategy, which has shown some remarkable results. Now, to what extent can we really blur this line? Let me just share some “Khushi Ke Pal” from my own childhood with you.

When I was in school I remember I lost an expensive watch which my father had gifted me. I ran crying to my mother who immediately calmed me down. She promised that she wouldn’t tell a word to my father. She said she would buy the same watch again for him and pretend that nothing had happened on the condition that I help her with some household work. The watch cost Rs. 800/-, which in those days was a lot, especially for a ten year old boy. My mother had fixed my so called “wages” at Rs. 25/- per hour. This way, I could make up for the cost of the watch in 32 hours, which I could finish in a month.

I felt bad when I lost the watch. My mother, kept my secret and bought a new watch for me, as a friend would do. But when it came to doing the household work, she did not cut me much slack. But who was I to complain.

Just three weeks ago, I was having breakfast with my mother. It was my birthday. She wished me as she poured me a bowl of delicious Kellogg’s chocos. Then she presented me with a brand new watch. I could tell it was expensive. My mother had unknowingly reminded me of that childhood incident. Then I had an epiphany. My mother acted as my friend. That’s why we were close. But a friend cannot teach you responsibility. My mother was also strict. She thought how to be a better man.

And there I believe is where the answer lies. Parenting isn’t easy. Its not black and white, its a whole lot of shades of gray. Semi-buddy parenting is what parents should strive for. I will no doubt play that dual role with my own children as well.

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My Mom, My First Expert...

(Image taken from here.)

‘Mere paas maa hai...’ is easily the most famous Hindi movie dialogue. The line has made an impact, because of the simple truth contained in them. Whoever has a mother has everything. A lot of holy and great things are compared to mothers, including our country. The truth, of course, is that nothing can compare to a mother. It’s a special relationship; the one between a person and his/her mother.

My mother and I share many traditions. Sometimes when it rains, we go out for a walk. The rest of the people run for shelter or open their raindrops hitting our face. Neither of us cares what the bystanders think. When we take our ‘monsoon walks’, it’s as though we are in a different world. When we reach home my mother always makes sure she wipes my head dry with a towel, to make sure I don’t get a cold. She never lets me wipe her hair, until she is done with mine.

(Image taken from here.)

When I was in junior college, my mom, on my request, started teaching me how to bake. Every Sunday we would be near the oven. Sweating, but still having fun. She ate my first few cakes, though I never considered them edible. Instead of criticizing, she advised.  Thanks to that I’ve become a master baker. We still bake together occasionally.

Recently, my mom and I started a new tradition. It pained me to see my mom’s white hair. So I insisted that she let me colour her hair about every 20 days. I know it may sound like a chore, but it’s an activity in which I take tremendous pleasure. During the hair colouring sessions we talk about love, happiness and life in general. The discussions aren’t eventful, yet for some reason they linger in my memory, and I believe they will continue to do so till I die. Funny, isn’t it?

(Image taken from here.)

Since the moment I was born, my mother has sacrificed everything for me. She has faced hunger, sadness, isolation from friends and even pain, just so that I wouldn’t have to. Whenever I fell down, she was always there to pick me up. Whenever I was trying to destroy any obstacles in my life, she was there, to help me and to give me moral support. She knows what I need before even I know it. She knows me better than I know myself. She is an expert in me.When I think about all the people who love me, and there are a few, I think that the only person who truly loves me ‘unconditionally’ is my mother. What has more value than that? It’s a sweet burden; when someone gives you so much that you can never repay them. The only debt that we cannot repay is that which we owe to our mothers.

Recently, I was breaking my head to think what I should get my mother for Mother’s Day. What can you get the person who has given you everything? But then it struck me. Having only one day for mothers is does not do them justice. They gave us everything, and the only way we can show them even the smallest bit of appreciation is by giving them all we’ve got, each and every day. And that’s what I’m going to do.

If your mother is around, go and give her a hug. She doesn’t expect it, but she will never forget it. Also, tell her everyday how important she is to you. Or better yet, show her how much she means to you. 

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'The Pen' or 'How I Became a Optimist'

People often ask me, "How are you so optimistic all the time?" This is the story from my childhood which I tell them:
On my 8^th birthday I received gifts from my family and friends in many forms, badminton rackets, board games and magic sets. However, I found it very peculiar that my father gave me nothing during the party. After the cake was cut, songs were sung and all the guests left, my father came up to me and told me to close my eyes and stretch out my hands. I did so obediently and with anticipation. Slowly, my father placed in my hands a cold metallic object and asked me to open my eyes. I did not open his eyes immediately but was trying to guess what the strange object was which his father had given him. Was it the controls of the new game he had wanted?

When I could no longer bear the suspense I opened my hands only to find in my hand a blue fountain pen. I felt a sudden emptiness in my stomach, similar to what I felt the time I accidentally broke his uncle’s expensive vase. Confused and disappointed I stood still not knowing what to say or do. I could not understand why my father had made such a big deal regarding a simple pen. I had plenty of pens with me which I did not even use. Not being able to read my emotions my father asked, “Do you like it?”

I did not like it. But I knew that I must be polite to my father and I also knew how the truth would make the man, whose only joy came from thinking that the pen he loved most was loved most by his son, feel. So instead I said, “I love it!” My father smiled as he said, “Take care of it. It’s very important! O.K?”

 I nodded and my father left the room without explaining the importance of the pen. Neither did I ask what it’s significance was nor was it of any immediate concern. What I did know was that I made a promise to his father and that promises, no matter what, must always be kept. What this young protagonist did not know at the time was that promises were not easy to keep and what a big responsibility I now had on his shoulders. I had to learn this in the most unfortunate way.

Two weeks, three days and approximately fourteen hours later, I was sitting in school waiting for the math’s lecture to end. On my father’s suggestion I took the pen to school only to write the very important tests or like my father called them “special occasions”. When the recess bell finally rang I opened my bag to check if the pen had enough ink for the test I had after the break. But when I put my hand in I realized that one of the compartments of my bag had torn from the bottom and that the pen which my father entrusted me with was gone.

I retraced my steps and went to the library where I saw one of my senior science teachers lying on the floor trying to reach for something under the book shelves. Her hands could not fit in the small space. On asking the teacher I found out that she was trying to reach her spectacles. Being only 8 years old, I used his small hands which fit easily, handed it to her and ran off.

I then went to the park where I played that morning but sadly did not find anything. Filled with grief, I started going back to class when suddenly in one of the senior student’s hand I saw it! The pen was one of a kind so there could be no mistake. I went to that senior and asked for the pen back. The senior student admitted that I found the pen in the library but he was not ready to give it back. He laughed and was walking away with the pen. I, who was now begging to get the pen back, had half a mind to hit the senior, knowing very well that it would only lead to trouble. Just then, out of nowhere a lady walked up to us and told the senior to give the pen back. It was the science teacher I helped in the library! The senior returned it quietly and was escorted by the teacher to class where he would be given a minor punishment. While they were going away I shouted ‘Thank you!’  The teacher looked back at him, winked and went along.

A sudden warmth rushed through my heart. I would later compare this feeling to jumping from building to building like a superhero. The lady I had helped on the way, had gone out of her way to return the favour. The incident gave me hope. From that day on I was an optimist. I truly do believe in the basic goodness of people. Now, even in the worst possible situations, I know things will be fine. 
Remember my friends- Always Look Up!

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