My favourite teacher advised me NOT to pursue my dream career.
I was shocked and disappointed.
Why did he say so?
I kept thinking about it for 2 months.
He was my professor during my masterâs program, and I had admired him from day one.
Back in 2022, during the fourth semester of my masterâs program, one day, during a one-on-one discussion, he asked me about my future plans since our masterâs program was about to be completed in three months.
I told him I really wanted to pursue a PhD.
Why?
1. I enjoyed researching media.
2. I was heavily influenced by the PhD. students at our university.
The moment he heard this, he said, âNO.â
I was shocked because he had suggested to a few of my friends that they should pursue a PhD.
I thought maybe he didnât see that potential in me.
I kept overthinking it for 2 months.
Finally, I asked him again, and this time, he explained why:
1. Research facilities in India for Journalism and Mass Communication are poor. Completing a PhD. can take 5â6 years.
2. Even after a PhD., thereâs no guarantee of securing a permanent professor position in a reputable institution.
3. Scholarship facilities for research scholars in universities are very limited. Unless you qualify for UGC NET, JRF, SRF, etc., you wonât have sufficient financial stability.
He suggested:
Consider going abroad for a PhD where youâll find better facilities, but first, ask your parents. As an only child, will they be okay with you moving abroad?
My parents agreed, but I was not sure.
A few weeks later, when we submitted our research papers and completed our viva, my friend came to me and said, âHe really loved your work. He praised it in front of all the professors and mentioned that he sees great potential in you for a PhD.â
That put a full stop to all my overthinking.
I calmed down and realized:
For me:
1. Waiting 5 years to start my career would have felt like 50 years (I love doing different things and learning new skills at different points in time).
2. Now, I love what I am doing. Not everyone is lucky enough to do what they love.
He understood me way before I could.
Now I realize:
The best teachers are those who donât just say âyesâ to whatever you dream of.
They are the ones who:
1. Donât care about being âniceâ just to say what you want to hear.
2. Tell you the bitter truth and show you the reality, even if itâs the opposite of what you believe.
3. See your strengths and push you toward them, even before you realize them yourself.
I am so lucky to have him in my life. My respect for him has only grown since day one. He is the best thing that has happened to the âDepartment of Journalism and Mass Communicationâ at the Central University of Odisha.
I can never thank Dr Sourav Gupta Sir enough for showing me the right path when everything was blurry.
As I write this post today, I will call it âTeachersâ Day.â
I was shocked and disappointed.
Why did he say so?
I kept thinking about it for 2 months.
He was my professor during my masterâs program, and I had admired him from day one.
Back in 2022, during the fourth semester of my masterâs program, one day, during a one-on-one discussion, he asked me about my future plans since our masterâs program was about to be completed in three months.
I told him I really wanted to pursue a PhD.
Why?
1. I enjoyed researching media.
2. I was heavily influenced by the PhD. students at our university.
The moment he heard this, he said, âNO.â
I was shocked because he had suggested to a few of my friends that they should pursue a PhD.
I thought maybe he didnât see that potential in me.
I kept overthinking it for 2 months.
Finally, I asked him again, and this time, he explained why:
1. Research facilities in India for Journalism and Mass Communication are poor. Completing a PhD. can take 5â6 years.
2. Even after a PhD., thereâs no guarantee of securing a permanent professor position in a reputable institution.
3. Scholarship facilities for research scholars in universities are very limited. Unless you qualify for UGC NET, JRF, SRF, etc., you wonât have sufficient financial stability.
He suggested:
Consider going abroad for a PhD where youâll find better facilities, but first, ask your parents. As an only child, will they be okay with you moving abroad?
My parents agreed, but I was not sure.
A few weeks later, when we submitted our research papers and completed our viva, my friend came to me and said, âHe really loved your work. He praised it in front of all the professors and mentioned that he sees great potential in you for a PhD.â
That put a full stop to all my overthinking.
I calmed down and realized:
For me:
1. Waiting 5 years to start my career would have felt like 50 years (I love doing different things and learning new skills at different points in time).
2. Now, I love what I am doing. Not everyone is lucky enough to do what they love.
He understood me way before I could.
Now I realize:
The best teachers are those who donât just say âyesâ to whatever you dream of.
They are the ones who:
1. Donât care about being âniceâ just to say what you want to hear.
2. Tell you the bitter truth and show you the reality, even if itâs the opposite of what you believe.
3. See your strengths and push you toward them, even before you realize them yourself.
I am so lucky to have him in my life. My respect for him has only grown since day one. He is the best thing that has happened to the âDepartment of Journalism and Mass Communicationâ at the Central University of Odisha.
I can never thank Dr Sourav Gupta Sir enough for showing me the right path when everything was blurry.
As I write this post today, I will call it âTeachersâ Day.â
