GEN – NEXT...

It has rightly been said that teenage is “one step after childhood” and “one step before adulthood”. But a question arises is this tricky age easy to get trapped in the temptations and adventures associated with it. Flashy bikes and new cars are the dreams, they wear branded clothes and prefer a glass of coke and French fries. They are very conscious of what they want to become, how they would prefer to be seen and known socially, they try to redefine culture and look things in a fresh way. Meet them they are generation-x.  Will this new generation would be able to keep this rich legacy of traditions flowing to be passed on the generations to come. He or she feels like a bird that has just learnt how to fly, to be on one’s own in the sky. As always there are two sides of the coin, teenage is the time when one has to build up ones career, compete with others and also with one’s own expectations and mainly to come up to the expectations of one’s parents, faculty and friends. So, teenage is the golden time in one’s life which is like seeing life through coloured glasses.

ARE MEDICAL AND ENGINEERING OPTIONS STILL THE SAFEST BET FOR GEN NEXT?

We have stepped into the 21^st century but still have not come out of the 19^th century mode. It itself suggests our narrow-mindedness. In today’s world the opportunities are no longer restricted to medical and engineering fields. The economy of the world including India’s expanding. This in itself is an indication that there is a scope for other fields. Sports, defence, fashion, modelling, space, law and the media are just some of the examples of areas where one can excel. We have number of world recognized institution which offer courses in the above fields. We are brought up with the dreams of IITs and AIIMS. We are mad to burn the midnight oil, literally. And the result ? Everyone cannot become an IIT graduate. It’s not a question of hard work but to know what one is good at .  A saturation point is about to reach in the medical and engineering fields. There are scores of colleges in almost every state. Today along with good engineers and doctors, we need to honest politicians, good lawyers, journalist and economists. It’s an opening question. They need to identify the areas in which a child can be successful. Doing something beyond the obvious should be the attitude...

Most of the problems emanate from the family itself. The trend of time is such that people prefer nuclear families and the women are mostly job-oriented. The complexities of life leave little or no time with the parents for their children. The school remains the only institution on this front. But unfortunately most of them have become commercial rather that education oriented. The youth experience the latest fashion and celebrate newer festivals like Valentine’s Day, mother’s day, father’s day etc. Which has never been a part of our country? Our own culture and tradition has already so colourful and worth living with, then what is the need for introducing these western trends in our lifestyle. Let’s not forget, that we are the ones who have to strengthen the roots of our culture and traditions and hence the roots of our values and character. The grim reality is that there is a vast ocean of temptations. It has to be a package of to enjoy them but still side by side struggle and work hard in order to ensure a bright future, financial stability, too thereby a sound settlement in life.