In India, education often begins with a familiar fork in the road — Mathematics & Science, Arts, or Commerce. From a very young age, students are guided (sometimes pushed) into these predefined streams, often without a deeper conversation about why they are choosing them or where they might lead.
Most of us follow the system because that’s how it has always worked.
I, too, followed a similar path. After choosing MPC (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry) in 12th grade, I continued with a BSc, only to later move into MCA (Master of Computer Applications) and build a career in the technology domain. Looking back, a simple but uncomfortable question arises:
Why did I spend three full years studying MPC and BSc subjects that I don’t directly use in my profession today?
This question is not personal—it reflects a much larger systemic issue.
Education: Knowledge, Career, or Job?
The real challenge is not education itself, but the confusion around its purpose. Education can mean very different things to different people:
- For some, education is about knowledge — understanding how the world works.
- For others, it is about career building — preparing for a long-term professional path.
- For many, it is simply about getting a job — gaining employable skills.
- For a few, it is about research and innovation.
- For some, it is philosophy, thinking, and intellectual growth.
- And for a rare few, education is pure passion.
The problem begins when one path is chosen but another outcome is expected.
The Mismatch We Ignore
A very common example in India:
A student completes BTech in Civil Engineering, spends four or five years mastering structural concepts, materials, and design — and then joins the IT industry after completing a short-term software course.
This raises an honest question:
Was the Civil Engineering degree a stepping stone—or a detour?
If the end goal was IT, could time, energy, and money have been used more effectively?
This does not mean civil engineering has no value. It means clarity of intention matters.
Time Is the Cost We Rarely Calculate
Education is not free—even in government institutions.
The biggest investment is time.
Five years spent in one discipline cannot be recovered. When education is chosen without alignment to interests, aptitude, or long-term goals, the cost is not just academic—it is emotional, financial, and psychological.
Many graduates later feel:
- “I studied something else.”
- “I’m working in a different field.”
- “I wish I had known this earlier.”
These reflections are not failures of individuals, but symptoms of a system that values degrees over direction.
Skills, Interests, and Interpersonal Strengths Matter
Modern careers are increasingly shaped by:
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving ability
- Adaptability
- Curiosity and learning mindset
- Emotional intelligence
Ironically, many of these are not taught explicitly in traditional degree programs.
A student may struggle with formulas but excel at leadership.
Another may dislike theory but thrive in hands-on environments.
Some think analytically, others creatively.
Education should amplify natural strengths—not suppress them.
Learning from “3 Idiots” — Without the Drama
The message popularized by the movie 3 Idiots was simple yet powerful:
Don’t chase marks or degrees blindly.
Chase understanding, interest, and excellence.
It wasn’t against education—it was against misaligned education.
The film resonated because it mirrored reality: students studying for survival, approval, or fear, rather than purpose.
Choosing Education With Intent
Before choosing a course or subject, a few honest questions can change everything:
- Is this for knowledge, career, or employment?
- Does this align with my interests and strengths?
- What skills will I actually use in the next 5–10 years?
- Is there a more direct or flexible path to my goal?
There is no “inferior” stream—only misguided choices.
Vocational education is not lesser than degrees.
Arts are not weaker than sciences.
Practical skills are not inferior to theory.
Each has its place—when chosen consciously.
Education Should Be a Tool, Not a Trap
Education is meant to liberate thinking, not imprison people in regret.
It should open doors—not make us question wasted years.
When education aligns with purpose, it becomes powerful.
When it doesn’t, it becomes a routine we complete and move on from.
The future of education is not about more degrees—
it is about better decisions, earlier clarity, and flexible learning paths.
And perhaps the real lesson is this:
Education should prepare us for life—not just for certificates.
— For more empowering perspectives on mindset, growth, and purposeful living, explore more insights at 4esind.com.
