Challenge 29: Experiences to Goals

How have all your acquired experiences shaped your career goals?

When I was younger, I used to be very hyper, and because of my hyperactivity, I simply had to keep myself busy. This gave me a lot of confidence, and I ended up singing in birthday parties, dancing when no one else was, entering my name in sport competitions, etc. There was hardly ever sat for more than five minutes. As I got older, my confidence grew with me, and I guess it continues to grow the more I involve myself in activities.

Somehow, I ended up doing so many new things because I was always ready to try something different. My love for performing led me to set my aims toward becoming a musician. I took the lead part in almost all of my previous school’s productions, this lead me to believe that I should be an actor. I wanted to be a fighter pilot because I was inspired by a helicopter pilot who I had a brief conversation with, as a young child. The pilot was very heroic to me, and I wanted to serve my country just like he did. There was a time when I was one of the fastest sprinters in my age group in Delhi, and because of that I wanted to be an athlete. Since my grandfather is a politician, a lot of friends and family members tell me to follow in his footsteps, there are times when I feel like being a politician. I play basketball for my school’s varsity team, and it is a really important part of my life. I even play for a state level team back home. I used to help my mother work in a slum, as she and her good friend gave the people medical aid for free.

The many things that I have done in the past make it really hard for me to pursue just one thing. One thing common for all of the things I mentioned is that I have a passion for all of them: music, sports, helping my people and people in general, helping the poor, etc. I have decided to take what I know from all of those fields and fuse my ideas together, so that I can use my talents in the most effective way.  

Challenge 28: I'd Rather Vote

If you were guaranteed a steadily improving standard of living (in terms of buying power, free time, quality of goods and services, etc.), would you be willing to give up your right to vote? Explain.

If I was really given that offer then it will require a lot of thinking, but from where I stand now I would have to say no. No, I am not will to give my right to vote for a guaranteed improvement in standard of living. A right to vote is something I have been waiting for since I was young child. You may think it weird for a child to hold importance to voting rights, but I did.

My right to vote is very important for me because I was born into a Chief Minister’s house. Since I was very young, I have been following my grandfather around for campaigns in different districts of Mizoram. Even though my grandfather is the politician, it involves all of us, his family members, to be equally enthusiastic and supportive. So, even though I have no qualifications, I am technically a politician, as my behavior matters a lot. Since, Mizoram is not a very large state, people talk about what we do. We always have to be fully aware of what we say and do, so that people do not spread false rumors that could potentially ruin my grandfather’s image. It is like campaigning through our actions, as people see that we are not a hypocritical family, people cast votes in favor of my grandfather. From all the travelling and campaigning that I have helped with, I know how much a vote matters. One vote can be the decision maker between the winner and the loser. Giving up my voting rights would be a direct betrayal to my family, as well as myself. If I gave up my right to vote for a better standard of living, I would be no different from corrupt officials, who shamelessly misuse their power.

My vote is very important to me, as it will be one way in which I can finally directly repay my grandfather for all his hard work and effort to make Mizoram a better place. It would show him that I care about him more than a guaranteed luxurious life. A right to vote may not be much, but to me it is more valuable than a better standard of living. I can always achieve that my own way. 

Challenge 27: Parent Qualification

Do you think that you have the qualifications of a good parent? Discuss.

I am everything that an adult needs to be. I am responsible, mature, and I know how to make the right decisions to make. My actions are wise, I can handle situations without letting my ego come in the way, and I am unselfish in everything I do. It is because of these thoughts that I am not ready to be a parent. I cannot think myself into being mature, or any of those things I mentioned. I have a lot to learn before I take up the responsibilities of a parent. I have to learn to take care of myself before I can take care of a child.

The responsibilities faced by parents are far too complex, compared to the kind of responsibilities we teenagers have. We worry about colleges and grades. Parents worry about which school is best for their child, what they are going to eat for the day, how to raise a child to a responsible adult. They have to think about every single thing in detail. The responsibilities that we have are not even worth comparing with a parent’s. Then comes the phase, where the child grows up and starts developing his/her own opinions about things, and this requires the parent to say “yes” or “no.” I am still learning to make the best decision, so I cannot possibly make a decision for someone else. Parenting is not for a few days, months, or years. Once a person is a parent, he or she has the responsibility to take care of their child for the rest of their lives. This involves a lot of work, and patience. Parenting is a full time job, which does not allow you to make big mistakes.

A parent has to be a role model, and I do not think that my ways are always role model-like. A good parent has to be responsible, mature, wise, unselfish, and understanding. I may have some of those traits, but they are still far from being refined. I hope to refine these traits in the years to come, so that I can be qualified as a good parent. For now, I am going to concentrate on being a good son, and I will worry about the responsibilities of a parent when my time comes. 

Challenge 26: I Have a Dream

What do you hope to accomplish within the next ten years? Explain.

I never thought the day would come when my opinion actually matters. The sixteen years of my life has been very memorable. There have been times of laughter, confusion, and sadness. When I put it all together, it all adds up to who I am today. When I was younger and I wanted to drive, eighteen seemed so far, yet I am approaching it. I am close to being called an adult, and with that comes a lot of “adult” responsibilities. The next ten years of my life, God willing I live that long, matters a lot as it will affect the rest of my life.

In the coming years, I hope to get into a college, where I not only get an education, but graduate with everything that the college has to offer, such as friends, personal growth, spiritual growth, etc. College is the place where the evolution of teenager to adult occurs.  Every decision made will be important and critical as to who I become. Within the years in college, I want to experience education in a field that I am actually interested in, which is sound design.  I look forward to learning everything I can about the different ways music can be interpreted and learning the things I never knew about sound.

When I am done with my education, I hope to bring back my skills to my country. From what I know, the music industry in India is not promoted very well, and I hope to be one of the first good music producers in India. I mainly want to promote the musicians in my hometown, as there are a lot of hidden talents that may never be discovered. I feel that my people deserve to be heard, and I will give all my effort into making sure that this happens. If I am successful in doing this, I will go on to promote good music in the whole country. I will go on looking for musicians in all of India. That includes the underprivileged, such as the poor, who have talent but do not have the facilities to be heard. It would be amazing to host fund-raisers and help as many people as I can possibly help in one lifetime.

All of this may seem very unrealistic, but I know that it is possible. With the right education, hard work, and determination. This dream of mine can become a reality. It may take more than ten years to accomplish all of this, but that does not matter. What matters is getting it done. Helping my country through music.

Challenge 25: Friends

George Washington said, "Associate with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; it is better to be alone than in bad company." About which of your friends do you and your parents disagree? Why do you feel that the continued company of this friend is a good thing? (Northwestern)

I had to leave my hometown and go to a place, when I was very young. I had just joined kindergarten back home, I had a few friends, and after a short time with them I had to say goodbye. During this short time I had with them, friendships, which I still treasure today, began.

I moved to New Delhi, the capital of India, and it was very different from my hometown of Aizawl, Mizoram. It was my father’s idea, as he believed I would get a better education. I grew up in Delhi and did not go home often. When I went home in 2005, I found my long lost friends again. I was disappointed to find that most of them had started smoking and drinking. We were only ten year olds.

When airline flights became cheaper, and travelling was made easier. I went home more often. I spent my holidays with those same friends. My mother, and my grandparents told me to stop spending my time with them as they thought they were bad influences. They did not see past the smoking and drinking.

What I believe is that it was only natural for my friends to start smoking and drinking because there was hardly anything to do in Mizoram when it came to entertainment. The only entertainment we had was concerts. Nowadays, the facilities back home is much better, and when the teenagers are distracted they do not fall prey to tobacco and alcohol.

I argued endlessly with my mother and grandparents, and I did not let them convince me that my friends are bad people. Instead, I convinced them that my friends are good. They too wish that they had never started smoking and drinking, and they do try to stop. They are the most talented bunch of people I know. We stay loyal to each other as friends, and brothers. They do everything they can to help their families, and they use their talents to follow their dreams. Just like any other bunch of teenagers. I hope to use all my knowledge and education, to come back home and make my hometown a better place.

It is not smoking and drinking that makes a person bad. What makes a person bad is his qualities, values, and how he looks at life. I see no qualities that make my friends bad. Their values are good. They love life, their families, and friends. They are not bad influences. In fact, they teach me the value of life. They teach me to work hard, as they work hard in what they do. They not only care for me, but for the rest of my family as well. They are true friends, and it will always remain this way.