Norms…This conforming to a standardised set of beliefs among the people around you. Alright, so I messed up a couple of years of academics to fall behind. So what?? I am going to turn 25 this June and I just graduated. Most of the friends I knew graduated when they were 22 
and went on to do their masters and graduated from that at the age of 24. I get the “Sharam kar!” from the much younger friends I have at university so much that they gave up saying it altogether. That’s because it doesn’t bother me; the whole age thing? It never did.
I have always proceeded with the things I had a special interest in. If I had buckled under societal norms and peer pressure I would have probably been majoring in finance with them. One of my good friends, Pappy as we affectionately call her is a prime example of how one succumbs to pressure coming in from family and peers both. She went along and chose finance as her major and later regretted it. A semester later she was sitting beside me in my marketing classes. How she scored a B in the finance course she took still eludes her.
“Finance kar le, behtar hai. Aagay chal kar faida hota hai, high paying jobs milti hein, kar laiiii”
I probably heard this phrase a thousand times from my friends when the time came to choose my majors in the final year of my undergraduate program. The idea of sitting behind a desk holding a calculator doing taxes and audits just doesn’t sound appealing to me. Which is why I was drawn to marketing and advertising. Now there was something I could indulge in. Practical application of your perception and ideas.
Versatility is what I’m aiming for at this point. I’ve applied to colleges in Canada pursuing courses in creative advertising and graphics design in hopes to explore my potential since I have always been able to draw and sketch exceptionally well without the aid of arts classes of any sort. Besides that I am learning french from Alliance Franciase Karachi. Learning different languages has always fascinated me. And if I have it in me I shall keep pursuing to learn even more languages.
Bottom line is I know what I’m looking for in life, even if its a little late. I’m still going to go after it. So instead of prodding me with forks of “Sharam kar!” ask yourself whether you’re truly sure with what you want in life and are you happy with where its headed.
Brilliant post. I think more than 50% of our country's population is living on the premise of avoiding a possible 'sharam kar!'
ReplyDeleteGod speed my friend!
Great!!! You have the courage to stand hard...most of us don't......we fall flat to the culture of norms.....we measure ourselves from the yardstick presented by PEOPLE!!!!.....(SIGH.....)
ReplyDeletevery well written ! :) i think mkting and media mngt is cool enuf!!
ReplyDeleteI have been through that heck! and NOTHING in the world feels more satisfying than doing what you actually are destined to do.. wouldn't trade that for all the big-moolah earning finance jobs!
ReplyDeleteSHARAM KAR!! FINANCE KAR LETA!!
ReplyDeleteNice blog. Blogging is getting better and better.
ReplyDeleteI like.... Jiss nay ki sharam us k phottay karam...
ReplyDelete"Cultural Norms", there are two sides of it,the positive one is love, security and family togetherness, whereas, the harsh reality is that we are bound to obey them,,, Its good to keep your expectation known to the ones you care about, but we should try not to emphasize on our expectations being abided by the one whose dreams and interest we crush under societal pressure... Good to know ur story Zohair... appreciate and support ur chase for achieving ur dreams which enhance ur true potentials....
ReplyDelete