It’s 10 AM. It’s sunny. And she is still sleeping.
She is sleeping on the sofa in the hall, and not in her room.
That’s typical of a teenager.
As an Indian parent, preaching “Early to bed, early to rise, makes one healthy, wealthy, and wise,” I should be angry.
But I am not. I am proud. Feeling good.
The scene reminds me of my teenage days.
The days when I was in 12th standard and appearing for board exams, I was similar.
I used to wake up late in the morning, but at night was not on mobile. Mobile was not even in the market. Not even laptops or computers.
Neither I used to read books till late at night,( though I used to read a lot at that time).
I was zealous about studying. I was eager to prove myself. I wanted to push my studies and be better than my classmates.
She is also studying. And studying pretty hard for her Psychology AP exam.
Psychology is not a part of her curriculum.
Her board exams are almost two years away!
She appeared for the Psychology AP Exam. I gave her a soft nudge. But she took the final call.
She did not have a tutor, no class, and she got some books a couple of months ago.
As a business psychology (organizational behavior) teacher, I wanted to help her study. But she kept me away. Studied completely on her own.
For both of us, her parents, -her stance toward mathematics was shocking.
She doesn’t want to study mathematics. She dislikes it.
It’s heartbreak for Indian middle-class parents. We both are engineers. In my 12th board exam, I topped my class in mathematics. And courted the idea of becoming a math teacher.
No math means no engineering. Heartbreak for Indian parents.
Yes, we Indians still think that engineering and medicine are the only two good career paths.
And she completely dislikes medicine, too.
Another heartbreak for Indian parents.
Our first stance was, oh! no engineering; then, ok, do think of medical.
Psychiatry is also a good area to pursue!
Like any teenager, she was adamant. No, I won’t! I want to study psychology.
For a few days, there was an eerie silence in the home.
Took some time to adjust to heartbreak.
She volunteered for the Psychology AP exam.
She is studying. And I can see.
Her comments on some psychology theory at dinner surprised me! I need to sharpen those psychology concepts. My understanding seems unclear, or I read them a long time ago, so I need to refresh.
Earlier faint acceptance of her decision has now shifted to stout support.
I planned to go with her to her Psychology exam.
I said to her, “How about having a nice dinner after the exam at the place of your choice?” And she suggested a “Thai restaurant.”
I agreed.
She isn’t yet clear on what she wants to do with psychology. I was also not clear on what I would be doing after the 12th Board. I wanted to do an MSc in mathematics and become a teacher, but I ended up in a government engineering college! And I never did a real full-time job as a mechanical engineer, forget a career as a mechanical engineer. (Less than 1/5th of students pursue careers in the area in which they studied in college).
I wrote my doctoral thesis on job, career, and calling. And I help professionals with their career problems. To realize one’s career dreams, you must like what you do. And doing what you like is always the first step. Studying and working will be fun when you like it.
Isn’t that what we want as a parent?
I am sure she will navigate the world of work, which is changing rapidly.
She has developed a love for psychology, which is good enough.
She may be sleeping till late, but that love of psychology and love of study will help her to work till late in the future!
I am stark awake, I let her sleep.
