There once lived a family in a village named Barkahtgaon. They made a living by growing vegetables and fruits in their backyard. It was not sufficient for a family of 8 members though.

On his 16th birthday, father of Jimina called him after dinner over a cup of tea. Jimina was happy that he completed his schooling this year and was excited to join college. He came to his father who was sitting in the backyard waiting for him. Jimina greeted his father,”You sent for me father?”, he asked. He did not realize that his father seemed to be tensed. He was thinking his father has called him to discuss on the college he would want to join. Jimina and his friends had already discussed and decided on the course they were interested to join. Jimina was ready with a broad smile on his lips to answer his father’s suggestions and questions.

His father started speaking by pointing towards the plants they had planted to grow tomatoes, chillies and bitter gourd this season, “You see these plants Jimina? These are what we are growing this season. We will get some 20 KG of tomatoes, some 5 KG of Bitter Gourd and expecting 10 KG of green chillies. But as you know most of these get attacked by pests and we do need to take care of that. Also due to weather conditions, heavy rains destroy them “. The smile on Jimina’s face was vanishing gradually. He looked at his father, unable to make out what his father was about to tell him.

“You have 3 sisters who are still in lower standards. Your grandparents are old to work in our farm here. Your mother and aunt take up all the house works equally and they perform it pretty satisfactorily. They hardly get time from all of us to help me and your uncle in this farm”. His father seemed concerned about something serious. He turned to Jimina,”These days you were in school so we did not felt it to be proper to give you any responsibility of the family other than helping your sisters in their lessons. But due to less income we regret to tell you son that we won’t be able to afford for your higher studies”. He placed his hand on Jimina’s shoulder expecting his response. For few minutes Jimina kept quiet. He could not figure out how he has to react. But being the elder among the children he kept his calm and thought for a while on what his father wanted him to know. He then turned to his father with a questionable look for which his father said,” We do not want to impose our decision on you. But want you to know the fact on our financial state. You can help us in our farm to bring up our family or if you opt to go to town to earn a living will be your decision and we will respect and accept your decision.”

Jimina felt a stream of cold breeze through this stomach to this head. He felt frozen. His father paused a bit, “Take time to think over it before the college admissions start”. Saying so his father left him and went inside the house.

Jimina was neither exited nor was he upset. He took the situation as a responsible son and a responsible elder brother. He remembered the words they all were told by their class teacher on the last day of their school. Their teacher was a supportive and the most influential person on earth for them. Their teacher had advised them as they had reached one of the milestones of their life,”This day we all will not see as the end of school days but we will see it as a start of a new beginning. Learning in life never ends, so school is not end of learning. You can further go to take up your choice of field in the next days. College is not like school where you all study the same subjects. You all will be leaving school with a wealth of knowledge that you will always treasure. I understand the walls outside of this classroom and think about them as context for everything we do here. You are all loved and cared for and have infinite value but that value is only potential if you don’t use it to grow. You have a future and your best days are ahead of you. Sometimes the mountain you’re climbing can obscure the view you’re about to enjoy. All that you have learnt here should be clear and relevant to you and your life. The knowledge and skills that you gain should help you live a better life and to make life better for people surrounding you. The first and foremost thing about any of the exams, in LIFE, is never be scared of them.”

A smile automatically formed on Jimina’s lips. He had figured out on what he is going to do further. He could feel the excitement to face a new life, new journey and to learn upcoming things. It was a turning point in his still and normal life. He gained the confidence in himself by recalling the encouraging and inspiring words by his class teacher. He knew he is not sacrificing his studies nor he is leaving his father disappointed. He had made up his mind to go for a part time job and also joining college. He said to himself, ”Now a days we get to work on our convenient time so I can also earn and get admission at college!!”.