Many of the mothers like me would have gone through this : incessant worrying about the child's future esp when the child is crossing 11th and 12th standards, popularly known as crucial years.
Till 10th std, my son showed more interest in basketball, dogs, TV, friends, phone and such other activities than studies. The school was a necessary evil and studies were to satisfy the parents. It was very difficult to talk to him about his own life. There was no clarity as to what line of studies he was going to take up. My worries about him at times would make the sleep difficult at nights. In nutshell, I had nightmares about his future.
To his credit though, he studied very hard towards the end of 10 std and got very good marks. My friends assured me that having once got the taste of good marks, he will now be on his own and that I need not to worry unnecessarily. Meanwhile, as I got a shift from Coimbatore to Chennai , he was put in a school which was academically very challenging. Each day in the school was a challenge. His commitment towards studies improved but that definitely was not enough.
During his 11th std, my husband developed a desire of providing him the world's best education in the college and he set his eyes on America. After initial resistance for obvious reasons, my son and I agreed to his idea. However, once we agreed, there was no looking back!!!
The aim of going to America brought us in direct conflict with the school. There were a number of tests that were to be cleared, the extra curricular activities to be built up, social service to be concentrated upon. To find time to do all this in addition to the school, homework and tests was really really tough. Probably we had chosen a wrong school. It would have been very daring to change the school halfway through. We have taken many daring decisions in our life but this risk was unnecessary.
While the decision of going to America was met with universal disapproval, the decision to take one year off was filled with uncertainties - what if he does not succeed ? Writing exams after exams was not easy at all , not only for him but for the rest of us also. On top of that, the results of the examinations were not always very encouraging. The times were difficult at workplace also for both of us.
However, all these happenings were silently shaping my son. His good marks in 12th std boosted his confidence. With gentle nudge from my husband, he learnt extremely good manners which made him a very endearing boy. The hours spent in the gym did not go waste. He developed a fine muscular body.
With all this going on in the background, the boy with whom you could not talk in 10th std about what he was going to study in future grew up, started taking life seriously and started talking about doing big in life : to build India through his construction company!!!
Finally, years of hard work paid him. Now, he has joined one of the best Engineering schools in US. While sending him away, I did not worry at all. Why should I? He seemed capable and confident of handling his life and studies well : all by himself. At last, the time has come for us to dream : of a very bright future for him. I know from the bottom of my heart that he deserves every success in his life!!!
