The common perception that majority of the Indian parents have is that if their kid has to be successful in life, he/she needs to study hard, clear exams with high marks, pursue higher education, get a good job which pays huge salary, get married and start a family by the time he/she is 30 yrs old. However, there are exceptions in regards to parents who are more concerned about the extra-curricular and sport activities in which their children can participate rather than giving all the time to studies.
In India, the preparation of engineering entrance doesn’t start after class 12, in fact it begins after the student clears 10th exam because the competition is pretty tough. While most of the parents try to get their kids admitted in the best coaching institute for preparation, a Twitter user has shared how his father stopped him from joining the coaching classes because the dad wanted his son to focus on playing sports.
On the occasion of the Father’s Day, a Twitter user Nishant Jain narrated how his father did not let him join FIITJEE because the receptionist told them that Nishant would need to study 5-6 hours and there would be no time for sports or any other extra-curricular activity. Nishant’s father brought him back from there as he did not want that his son stopped playing badminton.
My father saved me the day I was about to join FIITJEE. We went to pay the fees together. The receptionist explained a daily schedule of 5-6 hours of homework, with no room for sports or other interests. "Everyone is doing it, here's the form for the fee…"
— Nishant Jain | SneakyArtist (@SneakyArt) June 20, 2021
Nishant further told that he was the only kid in his class 11 and 12 who was not taking any tuitions but using his time in reading, playing sports and writing blog.
"But he plays badminton," said my father. The lady shrugged. He took my hand and we turned around and left.
Result – I spent class 11 and 12 as the only person not taking any tuitions. I read, I wrote a blog, I played sports. I had FREE TIME..
— Nishant Jain | SneakyArtist (@SneakyArt) June 20, 2021
This didn’t mean that Nishant had not pursued engineering, he completed his masters in engineering from one of the top universities and while studying, he also made two race cars with his friends. Nishant met the love of his life during his college time and they both are happily married now.
Here are the tweets in which Nishant has talked about his life and his father’s contribution in not making him sacrifice his life for doing what the other people are doing.
Maybe all because of one decision that day, when we didn't sacrifice my interests to do "what everyone is doing".
I learned – he taught me – to not sacrifice myself for what everyone is doing.
Happy Father's Day to the good guys. 🙌
— Nishant Jain | SneakyArtist (@SneakyArt) June 20, 2021
Adding more life saving experiences. I only cleared one university in my entrance exams. There was advice all around to send me to Bansals, Kota.
I almost went, until he said, "I know you. You won't work that way. Go to Manipal. It will work out."
He was right. It did… 😊
— Nishant Jain | SneakyArtist (@SneakyArt) June 20, 2021
I also met my girlfriend, who today is my wife, while I was in Manipal.
She helped me commit to a life of creativity, and supported me when I quit my PhD to become a writer/artist.
Everything has come from chasing curiosity. I probably take that from my father too…
— Nishant Jain | SneakyArtist (@SneakyArt) June 20, 2021
You try to get out from under your parents' shadow. You want to be your own self. I always resented being compared to him. Apparently we sound exactly alike. But growing up means understanding that if you are like him, he is also like you. Today that helps. I try to be nicer.
— Nishant Jain | SneakyArtist (@SneakyArt) June 20, 2021
Twitterati soon started expressing their opinion on Nishant’s story and some of them also narrated their own experiences:
#1
Mine let me listen to anant setalvad's commentary of test cricket because Gavaskar was scoring all those centuries when I would have been expected to study for JEE. Instead I did GMAT a few years later and went to the US.
— saliltripathi (वो बनाये परिवार, हमें पसंद रविवार) (@saliltripathi) June 20, 2021
#2
Waooo.What an inspirational story Nishant. Kudos to your wife who believes & have faith you.Your father who believed in the basic fundamentals of life to be happy&pursue dreams, else nothing would have made sense. Kudos for inspiring the other guys reading this, follow your heart
— Udita Dutta🏳️🌈 (@udita_scorpio77) June 21, 2021
#3
What a lovely tribute to your father. It is those gestures that we might not have recognized the significance of in the moment, when we look back on have had a tremendous impact on our future path.
— Maya (@thathaastu1) June 20, 2021
#4
https://twitter.com/milind__agarwal/status/1406805826052952065
#5
In our case it was my son who refused to join the coaching because the fee was very high. He did join some tutions, but he managed on his own to crack jee and then cat. He completed mba from iim indore! All credits to him. But it is very difficult for the youngsters!
— ✍Jaswant Singh Saini (@amans2508) June 21, 2021
#6
Such a refreshing story and a lot of respect for you and your father. Was quitting phD personally difficult or writing outweighed that decision?
— Aditya Rane (@adiji) June 21, 2021
#7
In a small way, I am doing something similar. My daughter is contunuing with her singing and dance classes where many of her classmates gave up after 10th. She enjoys it and it is a stressbuster for her!
— Arun Krishnan 🇮🇳 (@ArunKrishnan_) June 21, 2021
#8
Beautiful story, indeed but probably you and your father had the option to not take that route and yet land on your feet. For majority in a country like India, platforms like those are the only way to a decent life. But it glad it worked out foe the better for you. Best wishes
— Ramta Jogi (@Arshvaani) June 21, 2021
Has any such thing happened with you too or with someone you know? Share with us.