A Letter To All Parents
Dear Parents,
I've just finished 10th grade and its now time to take the first of the many crucial decisions of my life.All 10th graders are busy like me,planning about what to do next in their academic lives. Everybody is busy writing admission tests,getting into entrance coaching institutes and tuition centers.Maybe your son or daughter is one among those lot. That's why its one of the best times to be writing this letter to you.
I've always loved social sciences and have always wanted to work in that field.That's why next year I would be opting for Humanities stream.Many of my relatives,friends,my parents' friends and my friends' parents are trying to make up my mind to drop that idea of mine and join the science stream. Being born to two doctors and being a topper in class, it comes in as a surprise for many people when I say that I'm opting for humanities ,because after all humanities is conventionally considered to be the loser's stream.High marks in 10th you'll get into science.Average you'll either somehow manage into science or else commerce.But if you are below average, then humanities is your last resort!
Well,if your child wants to be an engineer or a doctor on his own then please do encourage him.Please do give him all your support.But if he doesn't want to become one,then why are you forcing him into being one?The world isn't what it used to be 50 years back.There are millions of doors before you.You just have to knock and find what's inside.There are a myriad of opportunities that the world places before very man.You just have to keep your eyes,ears and your minds open.That's all.
There will be hundreds of people around students trying to convince them about the advantages of being a doctor or an engineer.You'll make enough money to last for a few generations of yours.You are stress free.You don't have to bow yourselves before another man.You have total job security.You'll be respected.Risk free,happy life.Yes all that might be true.But is that why we are here on this planet?
I understand that you want your children to have a safe and secure life.Yes,money is important in one's life.Yes,you need money to live.But what's more important is your actions.What's more important is to be good to others and do good for others.What's more important is to be good human beings.And that is what as a responsible parent.you should be teaching your children.Because if you do good things in life,if you work for the common good of the people and if you are pure at heart,you will definitely be rewarded.You might not become Bill Gates or Mukesh Ambani,but you'll surely find happiness and love in your life.
Please do understand that there are no small jobs and big jobs.Every job has its own dignity and learn to respect that.Even if you work as a janitor,if you do your work with sincerity and 100% effort,you are better,much better than a doctor who works not in the interest of his patients but in the interest of making money.There are only small people with small minds who see the world through their selfish eyes.Please don't make your children one among them.
Finally,do understand that your children are independent individuals who have their own ideas and dreams.As a parent,your responsibility is to nurture those dreams and guide them through the right path,so that your children become jewels to the society.You cannot feed your dreams into your children for they are not your servants.They have a life of their own and your responsibility is to teach them how to live that life fruitfully. Correct your children when they make mistakes.Teach them to become compassionate human beings.Teach them to love each other.Teach them to work for the oppressed and the underprivileged. Teach them to find happiness in any small job. Respect them. Respect their dreams and their ideas. Because in the end what matters is not the money you've earned and the assets you've made.What ultimately matters is to become a good human being.Please help your children realize that.
"Your children are not your children,
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.
They come through you not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their body but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow
Which you cannot visit,not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
But seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday."
-Khalil Gibran
I've just finished 10th grade and its now time to take the first of the many crucial decisions of my life.All 10th graders are busy like me,planning about what to do next in their academic lives. Everybody is busy writing admission tests,getting into entrance coaching institutes and tuition centers.Maybe your son or daughter is one among those lot. That's why its one of the best times to be writing this letter to you.
I've always loved social sciences and have always wanted to work in that field.That's why next year I would be opting for Humanities stream.Many of my relatives,friends,my parents' friends and my friends' parents are trying to make up my mind to drop that idea of mine and join the science stream. Being born to two doctors and being a topper in class, it comes in as a surprise for many people when I say that I'm opting for humanities ,because after all humanities is conventionally considered to be the loser's stream.High marks in 10th you'll get into science.Average you'll either somehow manage into science or else commerce.But if you are below average, then humanities is your last resort!
Well,if your child wants to be an engineer or a doctor on his own then please do encourage him.Please do give him all your support.But if he doesn't want to become one,then why are you forcing him into being one?The world isn't what it used to be 50 years back.There are millions of doors before you.You just have to knock and find what's inside.There are a myriad of opportunities that the world places before very man.You just have to keep your eyes,ears and your minds open.That's all.
There will be hundreds of people around students trying to convince them about the advantages of being a doctor or an engineer.You'll make enough money to last for a few generations of yours.You are stress free.You don't have to bow yourselves before another man.You have total job security.You'll be respected.Risk free,happy life.Yes all that might be true.But is that why we are here on this planet?
I understand that you want your children to have a safe and secure life.Yes,money is important in one's life.Yes,you need money to live.But what's more important is your actions.What's more important is to be good to others and do good for others.What's more important is to be good human beings.And that is what as a responsible parent.you should be teaching your children.Because if you do good things in life,if you work for the common good of the people and if you are pure at heart,you will definitely be rewarded.You might not become Bill Gates or Mukesh Ambani,but you'll surely find happiness and love in your life.
Please do understand that there are no small jobs and big jobs.Every job has its own dignity and learn to respect that.Even if you work as a janitor,if you do your work with sincerity and 100% effort,you are better,much better than a doctor who works not in the interest of his patients but in the interest of making money.There are only small people with small minds who see the world through their selfish eyes.Please don't make your children one among them.
Finally,do understand that your children are independent individuals who have their own ideas and dreams.As a parent,your responsibility is to nurture those dreams and guide them through the right path,so that your children become jewels to the society.You cannot feed your dreams into your children for they are not your servants.They have a life of their own and your responsibility is to teach them how to live that life fruitfully. Correct your children when they make mistakes.Teach them to become compassionate human beings.Teach them to love each other.Teach them to work for the oppressed and the underprivileged. Teach them to find happiness in any small job. Respect them. Respect their dreams and their ideas. Because in the end what matters is not the money you've earned and the assets you've made.What ultimately matters is to become a good human being.Please help your children realize that.
"Your children are not your children,
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.
They come through you not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their body but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow
Which you cannot visit,not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
But seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday."
-Khalil Gibran
Comments
Post a Comment