When the year 2020 commenced, we had various plans for the new journey. Some of us were ready for a job; some were about to step into the adventurous college life. But as they say, life is unpredictable. The pandemic has shown us what that saying really means! None of us could have imagined that life would come to a halt; everything will be paused. Every individual at the moment is fighting a battle, be it in terms of health, personal life, financial situation, or mental health.
The pandemic has spared no one. The youth of the country is very vulnerable at this point. There is a job crunch, classes aren’t being conducted, and the lack of practical knowledge is making things worse. Students are finding it extremely difficult to digest this unskippable situation. The worst part is we have no idea when this is going to stop.
Being a student, I know how distressing this time is.
Doubt whether the classes will be conducted or if we will be able to get jobs after is affecting our mental health. The lockdown seemed relaxing in the beginning. Things started to worry me when I discerned that my career is hopelessly hanging. Things got worse when I realised how my parents have always put their hopes in me, that I would make them raise their heads in honour and pride. All these thoughts were eating me from the inside.
But soon I realised that problems never come without a solution. You simply need some time to think about it. I penned down everything I needed to do.
Since there is no job possibility, I started to prepare for the National Eligibility Test (NET). At least, I would have some backup in case there is a job shortage. I am also working on my writing skills and vocabulary.
Other than that, I have an interest in screenplay writing. So, I also wrote two rom-com scripts. However, both of them were rejected. But, my ability to weave a story using the sense of humour amazed me, and it boosted my confidence.
Here are a few things I feel that every youngster, especially the students should try:
Work On Yourself
Make a list of what you always wanted to do and shortlist those things that can be done during this troubled time.
Try Freelancing
You will learn many professional skills from this work.
Develop A Hobby, I Did!
This can be anything: learning to play a musical instrument, learn filmmaking, singing, dance, and more!
Online Courses
Some websites offer various courses in different subjects. You can do a Diploma or a certificate course of your choice.
What Can I Do To Make Myself Different?
The interviewer always asks this question. What makes you different from the others? As an answer to this question, we give them lots of justifications. But are they really true? They may or may not be legitimate. However, this lockdown can serve this purpose. Train yourself, so when you enter the world, you are confident and special. Opportunities do not come running to us; we need to find them. Then comes the moment where our skills define us.
One can’t deny the fact that the competition is high. The truth is that competition will always be there; you just have to make your special place in this world. Nothing can beat the combination of hard work and smart work. Make yourself smart enough to put in efforts in the right direction. You may think that all this looks cool in theory. It may sound flowery to do, but it’s not easy to make it happen.
I would want to share my experience here. As I mentioned earlier, I was taking this free time for granted. I kept contemplating that the present time is depressing, and nothing can be done. However, not doing anything productive makes me restless. That’s what encouraged me to join a social media strategy course online. Trust me, it’s very helpful. Plus, I have a certificate that I can add to my resume.
I also bought a Ukulele, and YouTube lessons are helping me learn! Playing the instrument makes me feel light and keeps me calm. You can get a good-quality Ukulele online. They are pocket-friendly and handy 🙂
But, the most valuable thing I feel I achieved in this unusual time is the presence of my family. We had never spent this much time together. This is something very special.
There is no better way to conclude this article than stating this dialogue from The Pursuit of Happyness: You got a dream, you gotta protect it!