It's OK to Not Know Everything yet

I don't know.

I don't know whether it is an Indian-American thing or a parent thing or even a generation thing but I think those small three words are our parent's greatest fears. Or it might just be a combination of all three. And it makes sense too. Most of our parents are immigrants that came here (most likely with partners that they barely knew) and tried making a life not only for themselves but for us too. So the option and the liberty of not knowing was a privilege not afforded to them. They just had to deal with the cards given to them and figure things out immediately.

And with their great sacrifices, most of us are given the ability to simply say we don't know what we want to do yet. And I think that's ok. I think it is more than reasonable to not know what you want to do for the rest of your life at the age of fifteen. In fact, I think it is more than reasonable to not even know where to start at the age of fifteen. I mean really think about it. At the age of fifteen, you are living at home, your biggest worry fluctuates between AP Chemistry and the boy that's not texting back fast enough yet you are supposed to somehow have a semblance of an idea that you would like to pursue computer science in the future.

And I think this need to know and to get started on your ten-step plan is foolish at best and harmful at worst. How is anyone supposed to get any concrete ideas from clubs and classes? This not me saying that you don't need to try to figure things out or a slogan for giving up but instead that it's OK to say that you don't know in the meantime.