Feature

To fly or not to fly

Yamin Tauseef Jahangir

"YES, I am a graduate, what now? Looking for the 'obvious', a job? What could be the salary range to offer or should I be thinking about my further studies?" some questions in a regular human mind that claims to have completed the basics of all the hurdles of learning. Then the clicking starts, either the job sites or the search engines to drown in a pool of information and going bonkers till late nights. This is a scenario for almost all the fresh graduates who are in fact more confused than ever and cannot decide on where to put their foot for a strong ground. At this point of time advices seems to be the hardest thing to digest and the reality check makes you feel to be in a state of delirium.

People say all is good in this country and that there are prospects, but that too is often questionable. Everyone opts for a better living, a better opportunity and once its there one should always grab onto it. The higher education aspects are now quite narrowed down and in many cases causing a diversification in terms of choosing the higher education programs. There are more universities advertising on their masters programs particularly in business but very few are there to offer such degrees on engineering, health science, architecture and also on pharmacy. As a consequence, people who always prefer to go in a flow with their core subject do face the toughest challenge in accepting the change. Going abroad to pursue the dream courses is not an easy task, but the outside world do provide options. You can find a better niche for yourself and explore the facilities and the technologies being offered. Learning is a never-ending journey and the more you dig in, the better the chances are to stand out of the crowd. Some say it is never wise to even think of studying at distant places and they support their thoughts in terms of cost, harsh lifestyle, adapting to different cultures and the list goes on. At times they even say it is a waste of time and that only experiences count more than just a degree. Of course it is a degree but achieving it is indeed a different experience altogether, because in this quest you not only learn you also come out from the bubble which was created by the parents in all these years of your growing up.

As a person you face the necessity for survival; you learn to groom yourself in the most befitting manner, say it with laundry or cleaning dishes or to the odds jobs which you once frowned upon, these comprise of the elements that completes you. You are an independent individual, making your own decisions with no one else to discuss it with, either right or wrong, you face it, and in this learning curve of life, you build yourself even for the worse. The degree is just a lucrative start but life is not all-glittering gold and you believe it once you experience them.

Frankly, your education has to be sellable, otherwise there will be a time when all you can do is regret. Educating yourself abroad does provide a better chance in terms of job market and a hefty salary and personally speaking, it is never bad to place yourself in that level. It is true that there are possibilities of brain drain, but with a better education, you can implement your thoughts and ideas in several fields of this country that desperately needs people to bring a change. Taking health as an example, you can contribute in the research sector where you can make a difference by working on life threatening diseases. In engineering, your innovative ideas and skills that you have learnt abroad can be used to improve the shortcomings that our country faces everyday. Even in a teaching profession, you can set yourself as an example and inspire students by providing unique approaches which will motivate them to come back if they ever go abroad for higher education. Say it in business the tactics that you have acquired would be an arsenal and help the industry to grow and meet up to the fast pace of the outside world. Our country needs qualified, educated and patriotic spirits. If the neighbouring countries can do it, so can we. We do have potentials to outshine all and with better education from abroad, we can implement our knowledge and the know how in every struggling place. However, in all these, do not think that you would never be rewarded, because if you can prove you are worth then you are bound to get what you deserve.