Siddharth Rajsekar failed 12th grade and never got a formal degree, but built success by following his interests instead. He tells students trapped by parental pressure to make a concrete plan, find mentors, and pursue self-directed learning rather than chase job security.
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If you're somebody who spent many years studying in school and college, trying to please your parents, trying to please your teachers, and if you feel right now that this is actually not working out for you, watch this video. I had 11% attendance in my 11th standard because I could not sit in the boring classrooms. I flunked my 12th grade and I don't have a degree even till today. But the one thing that helped me succeed in every stage in my life, in spite of not having a degree, is I followed my heart and I followed my passion. I didn't bother about what my uncle is going to tell me, what my aunt is going to tell me. And of course, my parents love me. I know where they're coming from, but I took some strong decisions based on my inner compass. You see, the previous generation are built in a different mold. They come from a space where security and safety and job security is like one of the highest values. And many of them don't realize that the world is changing so fast. And you know that. And if you are in that situation right now, what I would do if I were in your position is I would go and make a plan on what I really want in my life, and I would present that plan to my parents, to my— the people who really love me, I would say that this is what I'm going to be doing. I would get mentors, I would join communities, I would get into this self-learning journey so that I don't waste the next 10 years of my life trying to live somebody else's dream. While our parents and relatives love us and it comes from a space of love, many of them may not understand who you really are and what you want from this life. This is your time. Go for it. And share this video with somebody who needs to see this. Thank you.
