Spoilt for Choice!

It is one of those phases in life where you are called upon to make one of those decisions which everybody; family, friends and even the guy you meet on the street insists will make or break your life. Rings a familiar echo? Choices were supposed to be made after school and college but in most of our case, deliberately ignored.

Physics states that flow happens from a region of higher potential to one of lower potential. It might have been the flow trajectory that carried us after our higher secondary through our engineering dreams and the inevitable coaching institutes and deposited us as sediment in this beloved abode. Physics also states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This inherent contradiction seems to be too far beyond our grasp; or are we letting things drift by choice?

The greatest civilizations were borne out of these sediments.

The point is are we still not mature enough to make that choice. My time back in the institute has been a far cry from what it used to be. Pay packages, eligibilities, interviews and current affairs have taken over from the uninhibitted joy and gay abundance that used to be available in unlimited quantities. Be it the girl on the street or a batting debacle, discussuions these days have veered towards the intellectual with etiquette given prime importance. There is an uneasy eeriness prevailing just like the calm before a storm.

My experience in HUL was a real eye-opener in more ways than one. It impressed upon me the importance of doing what I wanted and not to be carried by the current. I didn't quite enjoy my time over there and even though I ended up completing my project better than expected and ended up with a fair pay, I didn't leave the place all smiles. I might have delivered but I sure hadn't enjoyed the process. I did drop hints that I wasn't interested in one of the funniest interviews that I will ever come across. I don't think that I would have stood a miniscule of a chance even if I had been interested. Companies' recruitment mantras are simply incomprehensible though this is not intended to be a slight against anybody.

I am delighted with the end result and am proud of my choice even though I don't have the slightest idea as to what comes next. Uncertainty about other options is surely not a good enough reason to opt for superficial fulfilment.

With the placements coming up, here are a few aspects that I felt needed to be shared in making that 'choice':
1) Never shy away from taking decisions. You are the best judge of your abilities and if you can't take a decision about your life, you are going to be doing no better with decisions on wind turbines and distillation columns. Company standing is important but you always have better growth prospects in companies that aren't exactly the toast of the world. There is lots of work to be done in such organisations and it could just provide your pathway to glory.
2) One of the major problems faced by all industries is the attrition rate involved. People are less likely to do well what they don't enjoy doing. You might develop a thick skin now and talk about adapting and developing cross-cultural relations but performance has always been related to satisfaction and external pressure. Pressure might have got us through the initial years but at this stage, satisfaction will supercede pressure with all individuals.
3) Salary packages are exactly that- mere packages. Understand the work profile, development prospects economically and mentally besides compatibility. Company X might be offering you a few lacs less at this point of time but you might be earning more in a year's time. As my friend remarked, "Look at the larger picture. You will get to know the finer details".
4) Start exploring what you would want to do in life. We have been guided by fixed targets thus far like a JEE exam or a four year B.Tech. but now......? The very purpose of existence will cease to exist without those definitive targets.

The above might seem a load of the most sensible crap ever brandished but a year down the line, this could top the charts with most people. After all it is a question of 'to be or not to be'.