Future Plans!

Some people know from an early age exactly what they want to be and how they plan to get there. For some people it is hard to figure out what they want to do after high school. For me it was not so hard - I already knew and decided in my early teens that I wanted to follow the footsteps of “The Lady with the Lamp” Florence Nightingale! Yes, I wanted to take up the noble profession of a Nurse, I knew for a fact that that was what I wanted to do. What I had read about from the available School library books, Florence Nightingale with her compassion, love and care, was my inspiration.

Besides Nightingale, my maternal grandmother also played a role, who never gave up an opportunity to visit known or unknown patients in the two Government run hospitals in Mangalore, a town in Karnataka, South India, while she was out shopping for the daily groceries and fish from Kankanady or Hampankatta markets. I grew up with my grandmother until I was thirteen, since my parents were away in Bombay (Mumbai presently) at the time, since my late father was employed by Voltas in Thane, then. My grandma, whenever I had a holiday from school or on Sundays took me along with her on this special ritual of hers and I really loved and looked forward to it. Nurses in spotless white uniforms, doctors in white coats, stethoscope hung over their shoulders and patients too, all left such a profound impression on my young mind.. and I wanted to become either a doctor or a Nurse. When I reached sixteen, my final decision was to be a Nurse.

I became none.. as I had desired to be. A family crisis shattered my cherished dream. Instead, I am sure my father meant well, who somehow persuaded me to take up secretarial training! Being eldest in the family I had five other siblings to be taken care of by the time I was seventeen. At that young age, it was certainly the hardest thing for me to learn which bridge to cross and which to burn.

I am not very sure whether I have any regrets, to be honest, perhaps I do.. years have passed by.. and still I haven’t forgotten my dream, may be because, now my sixteen year old son, is all set to leave behind his high school and planning his future. He wants to be an Aeronautic Engineer. Though I can not go back and make a brand new start in my life, I can definitely help my son to realize his dream! I am a strong believer of destiny and I believe that if he is destined to be what he aspires to be he will certainly achieve his goal, by the grace and blessings of the Almighty!