Students’ Speak: Follow your heart but remember to make yourself financially independent

By: Shikhar Singh

In this article, Shikhar Singh talks about the 3 types of students who may end up having fear of failure and suggests ways to deal with it.

Fear of failure is a state of emotion which arises with lack of information and knowledge. For all students who are dealing with it, please don't over analyse yourself. Life has always better plans than you can ever imagine.

There are three categories of students who may have a fear of failure.

1. Appearing students

If you are appearing student, you might face fear of failure two times - one before giving the exam and the second time when you get your score card. Let's talk about the first case, you are a 12th class student and probably going to give your entrance exam in the coming days. So, what are the things which may worry you?

• Your preparation level
• Comparing yourself with other students
• Family pressure to do well in exam
• Self-doubt

First of all, think in a wider perspective that you have a long way to go in life. It is just a start, you have hundreds of options to explore. And this entrance exam is one of them and nothing more. So, there is no significance of comparison and self-doubt here. Talking about parents, they are the one who have genuine concern for you. Whatever they are telling you, it is their experiences about life and they aren't wrong. At the same time, you can't admit their decision as final for you. Because you also know nothing about life and career options available for you. So try to contact with the persons who are working in the field where you want to go and the Internet could be your best companion for this research.

Rather than worrying about exams, give your best shot and don't worry if you missed it, there are many more to come. Analyse your preparation level, opt the best strategy and give your exam.

Second scenario: After result of entrance exam and board

Now you should look up to your score card and find out what could be done. Most importantly if it is not so good, don't worry, your life has better plans for you. Never talk to one who doesn't care about you or who have negative mindset. Take guidance only from experts and counsellors. Rethink about your decision although it is not going to be the final decision. But you should be careful to opt a stream for further studies.

2. One year dropouts

If you are a dropout, you would face the same mental retardation as an appearing student does with the only difference that intensity of thought would be higher. At this time, it is a do or die but it is only for your effort which is a good thing to do. Through this way, you would know your capacity and you can analyse yourself if you are a good fit for competitive exams or not. It will help you further in life such that if you couldn't score good marks in JEE exam and got a private college in your final year of college, you would probably decide to do preparation again but at this time you have an experience of the competitive world. And it will help you to take a decision.

Second scenario: After the result

If you get good marks, do whatever you want to do. If you didn't get good marks, plan for whatever you want to do. This is one of the most critical times. You probably want to take admission in a good college but your scores are not that good. You may land up in a good private college. There is no problem because getting college is not everything. After getting into a college, you will face the partial real world. Your hard work will give you success, you can go into an IIT, IIM for higher studies. Or you can get a good job, the choice is yours.

3. Two-year dropouts

It is my kind of a thing. I am a two years drop out and currently studying in the fourth year of B.tech in mechanical engineering having a fee waiver sheet in AKGEC Ghaziabad. Currently, I am not preparing for any government job or private job. I can tell you the most genuine feeling of a two-year dropout student who have no future plan. If you didn't get into a good college. You must ask a question, do you really want to do it. Ask this question as many times as possible and try to find out the true answer. It may be yes or no. If it is yes, get into a private college and prove yourself there. But if it is a no, congratulations you are born to do something different and great. At this stage, you should follow your heart but remember to make yourself financially independent first.

About the Author:

Shikhar Singh is in the fourth year of mechanical engineering from AKGEC, Ghaziabad. He likes to guide students about engineering entrances and careers. His fields of interest are natural science, Sanskrit, flute music, sketching and writing. By profession, he is a digital marketer and a content creator.