Dr Asangba Tzudir
A small boy who struggled in his studies as a Standard V student, one day told his father that he will never be able to pass the 10th standard. Those were the days when matriculation examination was considered prestigious equivalent to passing masters degree today. The boy requested his dad to ‘enroll’ him in the police. His dad gave him an astonished look. The boy took a cup and started filling up with water, and as the water overflowed, the boy said, my brain has reached its limit and so passing matriculation exam will be impossible for me. “If you join the police now, you will only be made to do all the cleaning including toilets.” The small boy then started studying like anything and soon he came to a realization that it was not a case of his brain reaching the ‘limit’, rather it was a case of not knowing how to unlock the brain besides the need for hardwork.
Now, with the declaration of the high school and higher secondary school results, a lot of students will be in a dilemma about choosing their field of study. That fact that the new Choice Based Credit System is finally going to be introduced in Nagaland University will only add to the uncertainties simply because of the fact that it is a NEW SYSTEM. While, there are students who are clear and determined about what they want to study and become in life, yet, there are many who will be looming in doubt and confusion created through conflicting interests and views, besides various constraints due to considerations of resources, so also self-locking or limiting ones potential.
Choosing the right stream and career paths will have a long lasting impact during the pursuit of education towards unlocking one’s true potential and worth. The ‘will’ also finds its place where there is real interest and motivation. A wrong move on the choice of stream which more often arises from lack of choices or because of certain constraints and limitations, will ultimately become the ‘burden for life.’
The case of the state of Nagaland presents an alarming number of ‘educated’ unemployed youths, that choosing the right stream and building a career out of it becomes more challenging. Sadly, the added pressure to study also comes from the fact that education and learning is primarily viewed from the prism of job rather than education as a tool to unlock the mind towards envisaging ones potential.
The uniqueness of life lies in the fact that everyone has a unique purpose that only he or she can fulfill, and the fulfillment of which depends on knowing oneself. Being part of a life process, knowing oneself first is crucial since not knowing oneself would lead towards a wasted life. As such, self awareness becomes the vital conduit to knowing oneself even while choosing one’s career path. This involves identifying ones interests and understanding ones skills and aptitudes. This analysis should form the basis while taking a decision. The aspect of knowing oneself is not simply to help find ones career path and doing it, but to apply it productively. If one is not able to apply it productively, others will use your knowledge and expertise to achieve their goals.
A thorough analysis of strength, weakness, opportunities and challenges analysis is crucial to unlocking the brain and finding oneself to bring out one’s best - of interest, skill and aptitude, towards becoming what one wants to be or to do in life. This analysis will also shed the fear and insecurities in each person to face the world with a broader mindset. In addition, discipline and hard work are crucial requisites to help find oneself and achieve ones goal.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
