It was almost 4 in the morning, but the room was still lit up by all the lighting fixtures in the room and then there was Hasan who had dozed off right next to his books, out of exhaustion. Exhaustion from playing online video games with his friends. He had planned to resume studying after having a short session of games with his friends but when one is having fun, the concept of time ceases to matter.
Hasan woke up with a start. He had a nasty nightmare. In a few hours, he would have to start getting ready for school. “It’s no use studying now.” thought Fahad. With the intent of studying when he got back from school, he dozed off again.
The school bell rung, just as Hasan entered the gates. He was panting from racing his cycle on the route from home to school. He wanted to discuss the new strategies he had learned to win the game but his unpunctuality didn’t allow him this. In spite of the bad reputation the backbenchers garner, Hasan was quite smart. He was in the 11th standard yet ahead in coding than his batchmates. His love for online gaming had developed into a career goal in professional game developing.
Today was the day the second terminal’s examination report card were to be handed out. Hasan knew he hadn’t put much effort, so he expected an average report card. When he got his results, as expected he had topped in the computer science subject in his class but the score in his other subjects was dismal. He had failed in some subjects and scored low in others. He was called by the teacher and was told off for being careless and not studying enough. Hasan was given the example of his elder brother and how he was one of the best head-boys the school has had. He knew he would not have a good report card but this was bad even by his standards. He was of the belief that as long as he is good at coding, something that he loves and enjoys, he needs to have an average score in other subjects. Why bother about other subjects when you’re not interested in them.
The school believed that the students need to be physically active too and hence the last period of the school schedule was a games period. Hasan was the midfielder of the classes’ football team, and a celebrated team member but today his mind could not concentrate on the game. He let the ball pass a few times, and he shot in the wrong direction. He was worried about his studies. For long, he had this aim of becoming a game developer. He had planned to get into IITs, the best engineering institution in India, obtain a B.Tech in Computer Engineering, hone his coding skills, and be on his way to his dream job. The report card proved a reality check. He didn’t have good enough grades. With just a year, he had not much time to prepare for the JEE Mains 2020. Interested candidates can fill application form in the month of September. Further, do check the website on regular basis
He was lost and dejected as he came back home. He didn’t bother to park his bicycle properly or put away the house keys safely. When his cousin, Asima, came back from college, she was alarmed at the sight. She took out the keys from the lock and went inside the house cautiously. There was Hasan, sitting in the living room, still in his school uniform, staring into space.
“Are you okay Hasan?” asked Asima. “Are your parents back from work ?”
“No, Mom & Dad are still at work.” Hasan replied. “But I’m not okay.” Hasan went on to tell Asima his whole story, his love for gaming bordering on addiction, his career goals, his report card, and how he felt he might not achieve his goals.
Asima listened to him and after a few moments replied, “It’s a good thing that your grades were bad. Now don’t be shocked when I tell you this. Yes, your grades needed to be bad to make you realize where you stand. You say you want to become a game developer but that isn’t limited to having fun while playing games or coding. As you grow up you’ll realize that you have to do things that might not interest you to get to do something that interests you. You have to be as good if not more in your other subjects as well. Let this bad report card be the motivation for you to start working hard for your goals. Sitting here, dejected won’t lead you anywhere. Let’s have some pizza, and when we finish, we’ll go to your room, I’m taking your gaming console which you would be given only twice a week, and you start studying honestly. Is that understood ?”
Hasan ponders over the suggestion and replies, “You might be annoying but you give good advice.”
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