Mystory@Diksha Lodha: How I selected my college and course

I made my own moves, life took its own turns and we both ended up where we are today – without many grudges to hold per se. My school life has been one of those mildly popular girls in an all-girls school in Indore. Social Studies was always my subject of interest where I always managed a decent score. I was not so good at Mathematics and Science, which often became the sore point with my mother disregarding the merits of my result.

How I chose my stream after class X

My course selection for 10+2 is no alien story and I am sure most students will be able to relate to it partially if not completely. So it all started from the very day of the class X result announcement. Standing out of the crowd and being unique had always appealed to me and I have functioned through my life so far on this very philosophy and my course selection for 10+2 was no different. Choosing humanities as your stream in a country like India feels like a rebellion in itself. In my case it was my mother and many distant relatives I was rebelling against. On the other hand my father had always been supportive of all my decisions. He wanted me to become an IAS officer which also became a reason for his support. Now comes the role of my school. When I was finally set to take up humanities with everybody's consent, my school decided to take off humanities from the list of available streams as not many students opted for it and so they couldn’t afford the faculty. This was my chance to get admission in a new school which had humanities in its list of courses.

There was a mixed feeling I had about leaving the place which was my alma mater for 12 long years. I was happy because I was getting to go into a 'co-ed' school along with my childhood friend who was also changing the school for the same reason and being from all girls school, it was quite exciting. I was also a bit apprehensive particularly because I won’t be given a farewell by the place where I spent most of my childhood. We made all the plans, we fantasized about how different life would be when we’ll share the space with boys. My friend had already filled the admission form but as it is said ‘man proposes, God disposes’. My school suddenly called and informed that they’re not doing away with my choice of stream leaving me with no reason to change schools but eventually giving me exactly what I wanted.

Then began my journey of a three students’ humanities class where the number eventually increased to four students. Those were really happy, eventful two years of my life. I had History, Geography, Economics, English, Psychology and Physical Education in my subject kitty.

How I selected my college and course

Before my XII board started, I had decided that I have to move out of Indore for my college education and it eventually became my only motivation to explore every possible college website outside Indore.

Deciding my course of study for college was another task. I was clear, I will not go into any of the commerce fields, science being totally out of the scenario, but then what? My mother couldn’t bring herself to agree with me graduating in any of the humanities subject. This left me confused between Mass Communication and Psychology (only in my head). For my parents, I was very clear about making a career in Journalism and Mass Comm. And so all the brainstorming started in that very direction and eventually because I had to leave Indore ASAP, I also didn’t ponder much and gave in to the Mass Communication spree. I ended up cracking GGSIPU-CET for BJ(MC) without any coaching classes and not much preparation. And not just crack it but with flying colours. I stood 13th among the thousands who appeared for this entrance exam. I also gave two other entrance exams for the same course, DAVV-CET and the entrance exam for Symbiosis Center for Media & Communication i.e. Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET). I fortunately cleared all the entrance tests but chose to go ahead with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) and finally landed in Jagannath International Management School (JIMS), Vasant Kunj, pursuing BJ(MC).

I am currently in the last semester of my college and I am working for Shiksha, an Infoedge venture. Thanks to my college curriculum which allows us the freedom of full time internships and jobs while we are still in college. I am getting to use the right hemisphere of my brain more frequently than ever. I am doing what I like and not running after brand names or leading a CV driven life. I have probably, more fortunately than not, tasted all the cuisines that college life had to offer so far. The PG life added a lot more colours to my everyday shenanigans. Along with my studies, which included equal proportion of practical and theory subjects, I have also done internships and got an exposure of the professional culture. I do plan to go for masters in ‘some’ course but for now I’ll earn.

I do not regret any of my decisions so far. Life has been a sweetheart, sometimes serving things on a platter which I don’t even think I deserve. I want to keep exploring new things in myself and in this world and keep myself entertained.

Sure I have made my share of mistakes, didn’t value time, missed out on opportunities, lived in my comfort zone, denied making efforts, self-doubts, but everything comes in a package. I tripped and I got up only to bump into some hurdle again but I did not bid adieu to ‘hope’ and ‘faith’. That is what keeps us all rolling. I will keep making mistakes and keep learning because every moment is an experience worth living through.

About the Author:

I’m currently working as an intern in the Product Operations team of Shiksha (Infoedge Pvt. Ltd.). I’m also pursuing an undergraduate Mass Communication degree from Jagannath International Management School (JIMS), Vasant Kunj under Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU). I have a keen interest in reading and writing and also try my hand at DIYs sometimes. I have a curious brain, ready for any kind of information.