SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BECOME TODAY?
As I look back from where I stand today, I remember the long years of childhood I walked through. Those carefree days, the nonchalant mannerisms, the laid back attitude and the playful, frivolous moments can never be replaced. Trivial things held great importance those days. Little squabbles over insignificant matters assumed more weight above other worldly matters.
Evenings were spent religiously in games and outdoor activities after returning home from school. Homework was a great nuisance then, the completion of which ensured a free permit to stay out till the last ray of sunlight reached the earth. Sometimes search parties were sent to drag us back to our respective homes. Great effort was needed, especially with mathematics homework, for the want of concentration- all attention was focused on planning what game to play. Children from the entire neighbourhood got together, forming groups with other kids their own age. The youngest group played within the safe confines of the building walls- the girls with dolls, smart kitchen sets and the little boys exchanging their collections of ‘hot wheels’ cars. The next age group would be seen playing hopscotch with pebbles, red brick pieces being used to draw grids everywhere on the roads.
Ours was probably the most creative group among all- we never confined ourselves to playing a single game. Coming up with new game ideas was probably the best game we played! It was beauty contests during the Miss World pageant, one among us being the judge, of course. I’ve forgotten what title I had bagged, but I still remember the accolade I had won. It was an assortment of stickers, which the prize sponsor had gotten free with something! The next season brought in a round of quizzing- each of us taking turns to be the quizmaster. Searching for the toughest questions to ask was considered a greater achievement than answering them as participants. This was when aspiration began creeping into our lives. I had decided- I would become a quiz master. (Or mistress, whatever).
Then came along the season we all learned to ride bicycles. The whole street was occupied by our cycles moving up and down the road- helping each other with the latest tactics each had learned by his/her own personal experience. Mid street collisions and fights as to who was wrong was a common sight.
As we grew up, the boys in our group gradually walked away from our games- girlish they called it. They engaged themselves in cricket, volleyball and other things. Fewer and fewer people came out to play now- “we have public exam, don’t disturb us” was their favourite excuse.(then why did they peep out from the windows with jealous eyes, I wonder!) . Badminton became the new rule of the day- everyone was seen sporting the necessary equipments, the bicycles getting rusted meanwhile.
I spent more time reading books- detective, adventure and mystery novels taking up more of my time. I desired for the lifestyle the characters in the novel lived, eating strawberries, marshmallows, picnicking in a nearby island and God knows what. I too wanted to dislike broccoli, like some of the characters, but never managed to find out what it was till many years later. I had decided firmly this time- I was keen on becoming a detective.
Years passed by, I desired to be many more things- participating in a play as part of the school dramatics club almost convinced me I would become a theatre artist. A school science project made me think of myself as a future scientist. (one of my friends wanted to become a house maid because her parents wouldn’t let her play with buckets of water!!) Writer, poet, astronaut were among other things I wanted to become. Whatever it was, I didn’t want to work in a bank because bankers were so boring (this was what I thought in the 1990s)
A change of scene, tougher study syllabus and confusion added to my already existing turmoil- and here I am as a medical student facing a new, exciting world of anatomy, pathology, medicine and other clinical subjects. Still, thinking back, I can’t help thinking about all the professions I wanted to pursue……….
Evenings were spent religiously in games and outdoor activities after returning home from school. Homework was a great nuisance then, the completion of which ensured a free permit to stay out till the last ray of sunlight reached the earth. Sometimes search parties were sent to drag us back to our respective homes. Great effort was needed, especially with mathematics homework, for the want of concentration- all attention was focused on planning what game to play. Children from the entire neighbourhood got together, forming groups with other kids their own age. The youngest group played within the safe confines of the building walls- the girls with dolls, smart kitchen sets and the little boys exchanging their collections of ‘hot wheels’ cars. The next age group would be seen playing hopscotch with pebbles, red brick pieces being used to draw grids everywhere on the roads.
Ours was probably the most creative group among all- we never confined ourselves to playing a single game. Coming up with new game ideas was probably the best game we played! It was beauty contests during the Miss World pageant, one among us being the judge, of course. I’ve forgotten what title I had bagged, but I still remember the accolade I had won. It was an assortment of stickers, which the prize sponsor had gotten free with something! The next season brought in a round of quizzing- each of us taking turns to be the quizmaster. Searching for the toughest questions to ask was considered a greater achievement than answering them as participants. This was when aspiration began creeping into our lives. I had decided- I would become a quiz master. (Or mistress, whatever).
Then came along the season we all learned to ride bicycles. The whole street was occupied by our cycles moving up and down the road- helping each other with the latest tactics each had learned by his/her own personal experience. Mid street collisions and fights as to who was wrong was a common sight.
As we grew up, the boys in our group gradually walked away from our games- girlish they called it. They engaged themselves in cricket, volleyball and other things. Fewer and fewer people came out to play now- “we have public exam, don’t disturb us” was their favourite excuse.(then why did they peep out from the windows with jealous eyes, I wonder!) . Badminton became the new rule of the day- everyone was seen sporting the necessary equipments, the bicycles getting rusted meanwhile.
I spent more time reading books- detective, adventure and mystery novels taking up more of my time. I desired for the lifestyle the characters in the novel lived, eating strawberries, marshmallows, picnicking in a nearby island and God knows what. I too wanted to dislike broccoli, like some of the characters, but never managed to find out what it was till many years later. I had decided firmly this time- I was keen on becoming a detective.
Years passed by, I desired to be many more things- participating in a play as part of the school dramatics club almost convinced me I would become a theatre artist. A school science project made me think of myself as a future scientist. (one of my friends wanted to become a house maid because her parents wouldn’t let her play with buckets of water!!) Writer, poet, astronaut were among other things I wanted to become. Whatever it was, I didn’t want to work in a bank because bankers were so boring (this was what I thought in the 1990s)
A change of scene, tougher study syllabus and confusion added to my already existing turmoil- and here I am as a medical student facing a new, exciting world of anatomy, pathology, medicine and other clinical subjects. Still, thinking back, I can’t help thinking about all the professions I wanted to pursue……….
Comments
times really flown by.....
nice post!
kanika......keep in touch!!!!!