At 6:30 p.m. on the evening of April 20, 1989 I was born in
a government funded hospital. I cried but it was the only time my mother smiled
to see me do that. I was going to a world where I would be taught lessons. Many people around me were loving, giving me
smiles and trying to take me as possession. I couldn't resist as I was very
tiny and couldn't make fights to them. As days passed, I felt strengthened. I
was able to stay awake for a longer period of time and see the new world around
me. After some days, I came about the most loving lady in my life, my mother,
who was able to understand my scream, my joy and most importantly my tears.
There was another person around me who often took care of me. He loved me but
when I used to cry, he handed me over back to the mother; that was my father.
I started to understand the value of the two most important
people of my life; my parents. I preferred to call them mama and papa. These
were the first words of my education. They
helped me to take the first steps so I would never hesitate to run into the tough difficult life
waiting for me in future. After a few months, I was able to walk on my own and
could speak a few words. It was the
beginning of my social life when I first put my footsteps out of my door. I
made friends, talked to them and played with them. Those friends were the next
important people in my life. I was allowed to play for two to three hours as my
mother told that playing outside for long is a bad thing. It was the first
lesson taught to me against bad habits.
I was now old enough to get in to the school. I got
admission in nearby school and spent my next ten years of life there. I was
taught a few insidious and unspoken lessons which I later understood that I had
to unlearn them. Firstly, the people in charge have all the answers and
learning ends when you leave the classroom. Your fort building, trail forging,
frog catching, friend making, game playing, and drawing won’t earn you any
extra credit. Secondly, the best and brightest students always follow rules and
whatsoever written in the books is always true. Thirdly, There is a
very clear, single path to success; It’s called college.
Everyone can join the top 1% if they do well enough in school and ignore the
basic math problem inherent in that idea. Furthermore, behaving
yourself is important for getting good marks. Whistle-blowing, questioning the status quo, and
thinking your own thoughts are no-nos. Be quiet and get back on the assembly
line. Lastly, The purpose of your education is your future
career and so you will be taught to be a good worker. You have
to teach yourself how to be something more.
Now, I got entrance into
college. It was my first day in college and it was the beginning of the highly
tense competition for the further undergraduate admission. Only a few days into
college and I realized that the this wasn't my true goal. The purpose of
spending two years in college is to spend a few more in University. I spent further
two more years of my life memorizing the lines written on books with our
founder of Pakistan picture upfront but I haven't read his message once on the first page of
eight books. To remain in competition I was forced to spend six hours in
college with a further four to five in academies (tutoring centre) where we
were taken in confidence to get a secure admission in leading universities, if
we paid the hefty amounts in the beginning. My extracurricular activities and
talent was considered as the hurdle in the way to my studies. I was neither
supported nor appreciated. I was forced to quit my extracurricular activities.
In addition, my parents paid heavy admission fees to many universities so I
could get into one of those. For many, it was about their monthly salary.
Now, I am a part of an
institution. There are so many demands and promises I made to universities officials
and my parents. There are many expectations of my future. To my parents, my
future is secured; to me, it is another stage of struggle. Work load is
increased intensely and snatched the remaining free time I used to had when I
come from academies during my college. I have to face demanding teachers and
students as competitors. I work hard regularly but what's wrong if I am an
average student. My parents and teachers criticize me of letting them down. One
thing I learned that our lives we are taught lessons, some which make sense and
some are just lies. At every major stage of our academic lives we are imparted
with the truth that " Son, the next stage is much easier ". In fact,
it's the other way round.
I have completed my
education, I am a jobless person in the Pakistani society. I see my potential
in abroad. I AM THE LIFE OF A STUDENT OF PAKISTAN.
Job well done!
ReplyDeleteThanx Buddy!!
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