Significant Aspects of Life

You are aware that I have been speaking to your son about some aspects of life, in addition to academics. I am doing this with the sole intention of sharing my knowledge, experience and expertise gained over the years with children and young adults, which (as you are well aware), has always been my passion and interest.

Your son seems to be interested in the topics I just opened up with him a few days ago. It makes me more motivated to discuss with him his views about life which are as, or according to me more important than academics. Please do not mistake me. I DO NOT intend to distract him from his studies. I only want to bring to his notice what I spoke to him about building relationships to last a lifetime, or being in a position to judge a person’s nature, intentions, especially about ‘friends’. I want to impress upon him that he may have a number of friends, but a true friend (as you both know very well) is one who would be willing and have the capacity and would constructively criticize your thoughts, words or actions. I strongly believe that youngsters should learn to discern between a true friend and so called ‘friends’; and learn to cultivate, build and maintain a good relationship with true friends.

You are also both well aware that when the infants grow, they learn about the basic virtues in life from their mothers, while on mothers’ laps, and at mothers’ feet. The father also plays his role in giving moral support and emotional security to the child and defends the child from the external threats. Both parents are thus sources of support and encouragement to the child, at home. The values imbibed by the tiny tots at home are further reinforced at school, by their teachers and the Principal and non- teaching staff. School is a place where the children are safe and secured from the outside world. It is a cocoon. Children learn by example and standards set by parents at home and teachers at school. Although the influence of the environment is there, it may not be a predominant factor in the upbringing of the children, as most of the time is spent at home and at school. Now, when children leave school, they are exposed to the ‘BIG BAD WORLD’ and have to take small decisions at college, tuition classes, canteens, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. on their own. And A LOT CAN HAPPEN OVER COFFEE!!! The youngsters are vulnerable; hence this is the right time for them to know about life and why and how life is different and much more important than career.

These things are not taught in most schools, colleges, IIMs, IIFT, FTII, IITs, COEP, Fergusson, Wadia, SP or Modern Colleges. These things have to be learnt by the children themselves. We can only give them guidelines and tell them about the pitfalls. Also due to the generation gap, children would like to take decisions not recommended or suggested by parents (who are their best well wishers), elders in the family or counselors. So, they learn through their own experiences. Hence, it is imperative and the need of the hour that children should be aware of aspects of life which will help them take right and prudent decisions with rationality and wisdom. This knowledge would help children to handle and manage the Challenges in life, which are INEVITABLE. It would be up to the children to tackle and overcome the problems in their career and life.