Is this what you think ?

Pheww!!!! Started writing this post a month back, pardon the lazy me that I usually am – just finished the post today.

A few months back i went to a book store nearby with two of my batch mates . We had a friendly conversation with the shop keeper and i wondered if most of the people think so. I thought i could shatter some of the public perceptions with this post --

Shop Keeper(Sk) : So you are from wimWi , you are going to earn a lot won't you pay me more ??

We : hmm.. may be after 2 years , but will you sell the same book at different prices ??

Sk : i was just joking

(we exchange a couple of smiles)

Sk : you people have lots of opportunities, it's very hard for me (after xy years of work-ex) to get my funds, but you can get those even now.

We : Great to hear , thanks for the info.

Sk : you know what , you won't get time to read that book in your first year. The curriculum is very hectic and i rarely see a first year buying these books. (i bought The mughal empire, brothers at war)

Me : hmm.. it depends on how you manage your time, We do have some free time - some people play , some watch movies , i prefer reading this book ;)

Sk : So, which field are you going to ?

Me : May be marketing , might be consulting, not yet decided.

Sk : Do you know how many opportunities you have , you can start your own business and do anything you want , you will have great network and can raise lots of funds. You should really do something with the degree you are getting.

Me : Yes, that's true - there are lots of prestigious companies hiring at our campus and we are getting a feel of these companies through our tuchaas.

Sk : Do you wish to live like a KING by starting a firm or work like a SLAVE all your life ?(After these words something started stirring in myself, should i end this discussion - since he is touching some personal preferences (or) should i take the pain of explaining him "what's in my mind", i decided to do the later)

Me : See It’s all about the gut feeling. If you think you are a KING by playing games all night on your computer then you are . If you think you are a worthless sole even after cracking through the toughest b-school in the world then you are. Similarly some go for financial security and hands-on exp by working for a few years and then taking up entre , while others jump into it straight away. I would say both are KINGS if they think so.

Sk : I see in news papers all the time, the companies pay such huge salaries to you guys who are just out of college with so little experience and even lesser maturity . Even the VCs are going crazy for you guys. You guys are really lucky.

Me: (Ideally I would have said “that’s great to hear” and moved on. But I was really set to explain how and why it works) hmm.. I am not exactly sure if the inflated figures are really true, but what else do you expect for students of the best school in India. Do you know how much people struggle to achieve this so called “Lucky” stature. I have seen people giving CAT for 4 years straight and still not cracking it. Do you know how it feels like to be in an interview where the professor rips you apart very systematically and proves that whatever you know is just a drop in the ocean.