What Do I Do In Life?

Five years ago, in 2015, I took out the dizziness of choosing a stream after class X as an essay: Science or Commerce? But, I ended up choosing law after class XII for which the stream I chose in class X didn't matter one bit, and neither was the physics that I studied through two years of junior college (fancy name for class XI and XII).

Now, I am near the end of third year and have two more years left to wrap up college. Yet, it is probably good to start thinking about what I want to do. No clue. The one thing that I have retained from schooldays till now is to change and fancy a different idea every day. I study law, and I really like it. It is one of the most interesting fields, and I am happy to be studying this subject that shall be relevant and necessary as long as humans continue to exist. 

Unlike back at the time of Class X, where everybody had an opinion to share, people don't really have much to say now. Looks like they bully only teenage kids, I escaped that zone. So, here are a couple of options for me-

One, I can choose litigation after graduation- that would basically be underpaid slogging for a couple of years at the most happening area and scenes in law. 

Two, I can join a law firm. Pay scale depends on which firm. If the pay scale is good, I don't know if I am good enough for them to take me in (haha, we need scores buddy, and you got to be there right on top, since when have 'good' scores ever been good enough?) If it's a firm that is going to definitely be glad to have me in, I'm not really sure about the money part. 

Three, I can postpone this whole decision and just study further. LLM is a ready option, and then I can go on studying till I have finally found out what I can do. But, I still haven't given up those hopes on Criminology and Forensic Sciences as a niche within the domain of law (hehe, Perry Mason influence is becoming actionable this time). Again, there are numerous sub questions as to where and how and when, and we won't go into those. Good idea? Bad idea? 

Four, I can do something completely unrelated to law. Two sub-questions arise(both from my parents and myself): One, why did I study five years of law then?! Two, what other thing will I do?

Five, I can work on a startup related to the legal field, or otherwise, if I do have ideas. This one's not easy, and not for all of us, I guess. I'm not sure if this is for me. Yet, it is appealing in terms of freedom, creativity and scope of the work I'd be doing in this. Also, the contribution might be very significant. 

Six, I can join a social work group related to law. A noble intention but not so much money in it for a young graduate. So, maybe this may not be the immediate choice after graduation. 

Seven, I can pursue a hobby to be my profession. But, I don't want to, at least not after graduation. This is not going to be my plan-A. I don't want to write for a living. I want to write everyday, more and more, as something I love doing. Also, I like intense work in a professional way, I think. So, this option has been ruled out by me, personally. 

I don't really think I am the type who can exit college with a mastermind plan to open up a physical business, or run a cafe, or anything like that- so such options aren't even options for me by choice. I am attached to academics, and it is something that I get and something that I can be good at, and also something that I really enjoy. 

My parents are clear that whatever I do, I should be happy and content (of course, earn some money if possible). And they stand by the advise they gave me through my life and also 5 years ago- "But whatever you choose, do it sincerely and be in the top." 

All the options listed are open, and I retain the phrase I used for myself back in class X: someone like me, who is not exactly very interested in one particular thing but likes everything without even disliking any- what should we choose?

Two years left, and I am mulling on ideas. Suddenly, two years doesn't seem a very long time. Let's see, it's not far off!

Zero To One: Notes On Startups, Or How To Build The Future

Title: Zero To One: Notes On Startups, Or How To Build The Future

Author: Peter Thiel with Blake Masters

Flip open the book and it starts with a bang for an opening, that'll leave you nodding your head, agreeing with the author. 

"EVERY MOMENT IN business happens only once. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won’t make a search engine. And the next Mark Zuckerberg won’t create a social network. If you are copying these guys, you aren’t learning from them." 

And, this is literally what the whole book is about. There are two tones to the book. One, where he is actually talking about the subject. And two, where he is giving his own opinions about a variety of things and projecting a contrarian philosophy. The book starts off with a very rhetorical tone of why we should start thinking new and not keep "copying", which is the "the challenge of the future" as he puts it. Then it moves on to insightful details on the economics of building a monopoly, dealing with sales, markets,  lean methodologies and also the culture of the companies. The examples ranging from all the top companies we know in the world give us a good understanding, especially on how to think and not what to think. 

The book mostly is of the tone and content of something that you would agree with. If you are a person who generally has a sound understanding and good logic, most of what is said feels like a good and much needed recap of something you already know, with some addition of jargon and methods. 

As brilliant as the book was to read, I felt myself not in sync with what the author was saying in a few parts. When he talks about "copying", it is not possible to dismiss as something he is projecting to make you think new. It almost feels like he is dismissing the events that are not just copying but comes with a lot of development as copying. And, though it is important to understand how we need to go from "Zero to One", I think it is equally important to acknowledge that development happens after the initial push of the guy who did the "Zero to One".

Another thing I felt myself dissenting about is how the author feels about focusing on just one subject and dismissing a "broad curriculum". While this may work for some, and that population of people is pretty less, I think studying over a broad spectra is what that pushes you to be innovative. I, for one, prefer a wide range because I find more scope in terms of how you can contribute. Life and our needs are not restricted to a particular field. In fact, all the good innovations have happened over an inter-disciplinary field, or even a multi-disciplinary one. So, though it's important for us to dig deeper into a subject, it's not up to everyone to do it. People versatile with multiple subjects are equally important. And, I find the author himself deriving inspiration in his book from a wide area of subjects!

The book is a brilliant collection of thoughts, and huge doses of truth that you may know on the sidelines of your brain that will push you to think. Here is one of my favourite lines from the book, especially relevant to a student:

"By the time a student gets to college, he’s spent a decade curating a bewilderingly diverse résumé to prepare for a completely unknowable future. Come what may, he’s ready—for nothing in particular."

In today's world of competition to grab that dream job, or a lustrous career, it is important to know and understand that the resume is not everything, or at least should not be. 

The book also covers various aspects, optimistically suggesting a better future where we do go from zero to one, instead of hitting a stagnation. It talks about the fundamentals of a startup organization that is important to ensure that it doesn't crumble, and also how to look at success and failure. It's a thought provoking book that I enjoyed reading. 

My takeaway from the book: Think, think, think. But, not necessarily like others. 

Science? Commerce?

Class 10 is the year when every single person you meet has something to say about your studies or career. Ranging from all unknown relatives, familiar ones, school friends, friends’ moms and their relatives, some ‘Aunty’ whom we just happened to get acquainted with- everyone starts off with the same question: “Ohhh… So, you are in Class 10! What are you going to choose next year? Science? Commerce?” Yes, that is the question that I dread when I talk to someone. I pray so that they don’t ask that damned question. Why? Because I don’t know the answer, and will not be able to provide them with one. At least, if it is my dad, I can ask him straight on the face what his problem is. If I do the same to the others, I will have to be ready to take that gorgon stare from my mom(who believes that answering in such a way points to bad bringing-up), which I am not ready to.

But here is something very amusing- most others of my class seem to have identified answers for such questions. Or at least they have an answer even if they are not very sure about it, because of the constant bombardment of these standard questions. Out of thirty-five in my class, half of them want to become doctors(one has even specified that she wants to be a gynaecologist!), some of them want to ‘crack IIT’ or want to get into NIT, one wants to become an IAS officer, a few want to become fashion designers(I don’t see any boys in my class wanting that), and there are a few who want to go and work in NASA as an aero-physicist! Well? What do you infer? I might seem to be the only one who really isn't very clear. But thank God! There are some others to give me company...

Many people start advising about how to go about choosing, and all that. They say, “One, identify what your interests are.” As a fact, I am stuck at that very first step. How do you really identify your interest? Forget about those who are exceptionally- exceptionally- good at something like music, art, dance, or even physics, math or any other subject. Their interest would probably be that. But for someone like me, who is not exactly very interested in one particular thing but likes everything without even disliking any- what should we choose- Science? Commerce?

Of the people who talk often, about this, to me, my father tops the list. For one thing, he can convince me either way- to take commerce or science- through how he argues on each side- that is something I don’t like much. It’s very confusing, and irritating. But he says it’s good, and that he is only playing the devil’s advocate.

As far as I understood them all- If I choose Science, then I will have to drop other things. I will have to study real hard to score marks if I am not able to manage both studies and the extra-curriculars(which is bad because all the “Cultural Events” start only from Class 11). Also I can still choose to become a CA or any other professional. All options will be open. But if I choose Commerce I can never come back to the Science stream. That is very clear.

We discussed courses such as Humanities(IIT-M has a course for that) and Law. We weren’t sure whether I had to take Science or Commerce to pursue those. I didn’t actually want to do B.Pharm, which we did discuss about, because I will have to take Biology for that.

At this point, I actually try to understand why my dad took science group when he was in Class 11. His reply is simple. He says: “Back then it wasn't prestigious if you didn't take Science. It was seen as if you couldn't.” Well! That didn't help me solve my little(or big) problem of deciding on what to choose.

Of course, my dear grandma and grandpa believe that I have to take Commerce and become a Chartered Accountant. My mother has already made it very clear that she would love it if I take up Science with Biology and become a doctor. At this point, I have to stop with the story to tell you that I am clear I won’t become a doctor.

But finally, they all tell me one thing that all of them agree upon: Choose anything you want. But whatever you choose, do it sincerely and be in the top.

Now, we come back to the first question: What should I choose? Science or Commerce?

Let us see. Class 11 is not really far off!