Sometimes, overcoming self-doubt is the best way to reveal your true passions. This week, Anushka Chhabra, an aspiring data analyst and student at Jesus and Mary College, shows just how powerful it can be to pursue dreams fearlessly and to ignore others' opinions.
"All I want to say is never fear what the world is going to think of you. If you choose a subject you love, you will surely excel in it"
When I first told my parents, I wanted to take up Mathematics as my major in college, they were a bit apprehensive and I wouldn’t blame them for it. Coming from a country like India, where only engineering and medical sciences are considered actual professions, my choice was a bit worrisome for them. All my friends in school, were busy preparing for various competitive exams just so that they could get into a good engineering program, while I had made up my mind that I would not even try getting into such a program.
The most common reaction I got was, “Why are you choosing math, do you want to be a teacher?”. But after 2 years of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in high school, I knew what I wanted to study for the next 3 years of my life and it was not Physics or Chemistry for sure. A large number of people find math terrorising and it’s not easy for them to believe that one might actually love the subject. Despite all of the weird reactions, I was sure I wanted to travel the path less taken and after loads of hard work, I got into my dream college.
All my classmates got into engineering programs and I became the odd one out yet I don’t regret my decision. My friends whine all day about college because their choice wasn’t out of interest in the subject, it was out of the pressure to fit in. On the other hand, I love going to college and spending hours solving math problems. For some of my classmates in college, Mathematics was their 2nd choice and for the first month they were pretty adamant on changing their major but after spending some time with Mathematics, by the end of the month, they realised they actually liked it. Out of the 12 students, who wanted to switch only 2 did. Our first semester results were announced recently and I stood first in class. I know that was only possible because of my love for the subject.
I am not saying that everyone should take up Mathematics, everyone has their own interests. All I want to say is never fear what the world is going to think of you. If you choose a subject you love, you will surely excel in it and that’s because you’ll enjoy spending hours on it and completing assignments. It won’t ever feel like a burden. Even if I would have gotten into an engineering program, I would have been awful at it.
My parents supported me through each step and I am grateful to them for letting me choose the life that I wanted. My life is also full of ups and downs, it isn’t perfect; let’s be honest, whose is. But what keeps me going is the fact that I chose this life and each challenge that I face makes me stronger along the way.
By Anushka Chhabra
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