Life has always been very uncertain. We can never truly know exactly what is going to happen or what the future has in store for us. Of course, regardless of this, we still plan ahead and work towards achieving our goals. Most of the time things pan out in our favour if we work hard enough and persevere. Unfortunately, for a lot of different people, the current pandemic had left their years of hard work and plans in shambles and their futures in limbo.
Everyone always says that your 20s is a period where you can explore different avenues of life. It’s the time where you’re supposed to lay the foundation for your career and the rest of your adult life. But thanks to the nearly two-year-long pandemic that is happening world over, a lot of young adults such as myself are in a state of confusion, panic and worry. With so much uncertainty around us, how are we supposed to move ahead?
Personally speaking, making life-changing decisions at the current moment or even planning for them in the coming months can be incredibly daunting. I debate between doing my masters or switching my career stream more often than not. Will I be wasting the best years of my life doing a masters course while sitting at home? Will I be wasting my money on a master’s course that cannot currently offer me a proper experience? Will I get a good job if I don’t do a masters course? I’m plagued with a hundred different questions regarding the course of my future. After speaking to several friends and acquaintances I soon realised that I’m not the only one feeling this way.
An old friend of mine had her life all planned out. She had gotten into the perfect college abroad for her masters and was all set to leave in September 2020 until she got the news that all her classes would be online since universities were shut. Since she wanted the true university experience that she had paid so much for she decided to defer her offer of admission to January 2021. Unfortunately, she had to do the same again, moving her admission to September 2021 and now finally January 2022. She tells me that this whole experience has taught her the importance of living one day at a time and seeing the blessings each day brings.
Dana Cardoso, a medical student studying at the Goa Medical College, was set to start her internship when the first wave of Covid-19 hit Goa’s shores. Her batch was required to intern and help the doctors and nurses manage the situation with the numerous Covid-19 patients, while also studying and preparing for their exams that were supposed to be conducted in December 2020. It was an incredibly stressful situation for doctors and residents, let alone medical interns such as herself.
Unfortunately, due to the second wave of Covid-19, Dana’s exams were postponed to April 2021. Once again, a mere two days before Dana and the other medical students were ready to sit for their exams, it was postponed to September 11, 2021. Not knowing whether or not it can be postponed again has left several students, including Dana, unsure about what their future holds. A once 4-year course has now been extended to 5 years, leaving these students stuck and unable to start practicing medicine since they haven’t passed their exams yet. And it isn’t only Dana’s batch of interns but the resident doctors too who cannot move forward.
Unsurprisingly, several students who belong to practical fields have been suffering due to the pandemic. Eliska de Souza, a final year Bachelors of Pharmacy student, is currently stuck in the same boat as Dana. “It’s definitely been a problem to think about answering entrance exams for further studies as all the Pharmacy exams were delayed,” she says. Under normal circumstances, Eliska’s final year exams would have ended in July, leaving her with enough time to prepare for her master’s entrance exams. Due to the delay, she hasn’t been able to graduate and feels as if her future is uncertain.
A college friend of mine, Navamya Acharya recently told me that there are days when she feels as if her current career choice is a mistake. She cannot help but wonder at the time why she is pursuing higher education amidst a pandemic. “It does get difficult trying to pursue a master’s course online,” she says, “But our professors always give us a lot of reading material and assignments that keep our mind running for ideas and solutions.” Navamya tries to keep her mindset positive and this has reminded me how helpful the power of happy thoughts can be.
Everyone who I have spoken to highly commends the manner in which their professors have managed to navigate this tricky time. Here in India, online classes were an entirely new experience for everyone, and thankfully we were lucky enough to have such dedicated teachers who constantly try their best.
I sincerely hope that in the months to come, our country starts to regain some form of normality so that people like you and me can figure out our plans for the future. All each of us can do for now is try our hardest to make the best out of this current situation while staying safe and healthy. And remember— whatever happens in life, happens for a reason.
“If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavour.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Written By Jessica Albuquerque,
A master of being a Jack of all Trades, A method in madness some may say. I’m just a girl on a never-ending journey, Standing on the precipice of my next big story.
Week 28, July 2021
