Navigating the Journey from School to Adulthood: A Journey of Nostalgia and Realization

Introduction

Transitioning from the security and familiarity of school to the independence of adulthood can be a complex experience. In this article, I will share my personal journey, reflecting on how my mindset evolved during different stages of my education, from a young child to a high school student, and how it continues to impact my life today.

Early Childhood: Frustration and Bargaining

At around four or five years old, my curiosity often clashed with the demands of school. This was an era when I questioned the necessity of attending school and tuition, especially when I believed that my mother could teach me just as effectively at home.

Me: Why do I have to go to school and tuition when you can teach me the same things at home? I don't see the need to go to school.

But mom explained it this way: No, I don't have enough time to teach you thoroughly because I also have a lot of household chores. Children of your age group have already started school, and you're just trying to avoid it. This was my first encounter with the reality of societal expectations and the structured life of schooling.

High School: Freedom and Escape

As I approached high school (10th grade), my attitude began to shift. I was finally relieved to be free from the pressures of making friends and dealing with different teachers who seemed to target the diligent students who didn't attend tuitions.

Me thinking to myself: Finally, I'll be free from all this—fake friends and some teachers who target the diligent students who don't attend their tuitions.

However, the reality hit me hard when the board exams were over. A month or two later, I began to miss the school days. Nostalgia set in, and I realized how much I had taken for granted.

Reflection and Nostalgia

Reflecting on my school life, I remembered the constant arguments we had with students from other sections over something as trivial as taking our curtains during the scorching heat of May and June. Despite the arguments, we enjoyed 8th and 9th grade, being both studious and creating a fun and chaotic atmosphere in the classroom. But as we approached 10th grade, the atmosphere changed. Parents and teachers insisted that this was the time for serious study, and it became a race to prove ourselves.

But I pulled back from such activities in 10th grade because parents and teachers kept insisting that this is serious—it's the BOARD exams and I needed to work hard and prove myself.

During this period, I felt like the activities of my childhood were overshadowed by the immense career pressures that began to bear down on me. No matter if you were a top student or a backbencher, you needed to work harder and harder for the next three to four years. Even if it was for yourself, it was at least for the sake of your parents who had high expectations from you.

Conclusion

Every school day was a step towards adulthood, and as I now sit at home, I realize that the child in me has been overshadowed by the reality of career pressures. It doesn't matter what you did in your school years; you need to work harder in the next few years. I believe it's a reality that many of us have experienced and continue to face. And on that note, there's a story about a girl with incredible… which I might share in another article.

REGARDS!