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Originally Posted by ticktockclok  I can see where you're coming from; My uncle went to IIT-Mumbai, my mom went to college in Pune, and my dad went to a state engineering college. Over there, the only way seems to be to cram your head off, do good in board exams, go to college, get a good job. Though the system is essentially the same over here, you have more options. I know my aunt, when going to college in the US, became very confused when the college gave her a sheet with the electives she could take. She called back home, talking for hours, because she had never heard of electives; previously, everything was assigned to her. In this way, your dad probably feels that you shouldn't take any other options, and just stay to the strict path.
My parents were the same when I suggested that I drop out of high school and be an autodidact, or maybe just get a high school degree from an online charter school. They didn't agree, for the same reasons as your dad. My solution was to mentally drop out of school, stop giving a damn about grades as long as it kept my parents off my back, and have some fun pissing off all the teachers I didn't like.
You're over eighteen. Obviously, you have a lot more freedom than I do to do what you want. So if you're living with your parents, plan to move out, because I doubt an Indian dad will be someone you want to be around after not allowing him to "rest in peace". Don't jump off the ship immediately, because if you decide to quit college and be an entrepreneur and make millions blogging, where are you going to stay while you build up? Its pretty hard to live out your life's purpose when you're hitting soup kitchens every night and living off a welfare check.
What is your purpose anyway? |
ticktockclock, thank you for the insight; and everyone else, thank you very much for yours. it has all been very useful! ticktock, my purpose is right above your post. i talked with my dad about it, and he said as a father, his duty is to provide me with shelter and food, so he will definitely do that. i can stay at home, but the responsibility will be all mine. i'll have to pay for all of my things and I will have to not be a burden on anyone. this is more than I was expecting, so that's a good thing.
after doing some reflection on what Zukin said, I see that I can reframe the role of school in my life. perhaps I can see it as something which I can use to build self discipline. however, I do believe that i have a tremendous amount of self-discipline already, and it may just be forcing myself to do what I don't like to do, and I don't think that's what life is about. I believe self discipline is a method to keep yourself on the path you've set for yourself. so if school isn't on my path, then I don't see the point in using self discipline to do well (if that makes ANY sense at all, I'll be amazed!) anyways, i understand your concern, and thank you for that perspective.
Perhaps I can use school for different reasons, but that won't change the fact that I have to deal with worthless classes that don't serve my interest or purpose. I don't know how to get around that one. I can still continue to blog, even if I am in school. I guess this is all a question of freedom. Do I want to restrict myself to the confines of class and useless drivel (at least to my life) for 2 more years? Or will I tolerate it? It's a tough decision, and it does take a lot of courage (i'm realizing).
Please provide any more insight if you have any. This is a very hard decision, and I appreciate your perspectives.
Rahul