When I left my home province on the
coast for another to start Grade 11 in the national high school in the Highlands,
I was excited.
When
school commenced, I was hooked on Economics. After a few weeks, I decided that
I would become an economist. (I loved Commerce in Grade 10 and my guardian was
managing shops for a company back then and must have influenced my way of
thinking about a future career – one that was related to what he was doing.)
I
made sure I was in the top 5% in Grade 11 Economics in each term.
My
interest in Geography (especially the physical aspects), since I was in primary
school, had me working hard in the subject to be comfortably placed in the top
5% rank in that subject also.
In
the mean time, I surprised myself by doing well in some Science subjects and
Maths. We had a remarkable Grade 11 Sri Lankan teacher who also inspired some
of us in the subject. He challenged us in the subject and we said he had a
computer in his brain because he could calculate sums without a need for a
calculator.
When
the time came for us to choose a strand, I walked into the deputy (academic)
principal’s office with my subjects – English, Economics, Geography, Maths B,
History, Music.
The
deputy was not happy. He said: “You are good with the sciences, do the Science
strand and Maths A. Drop Music and take up Economics with the sciences.”
I
disagreed and we debated for some time.
Finally
he convinced me to take all sciences.
But
I did not allow him to have me drop Music. I took the sciences. Maths A and
Music.
However,
the big surprise was “I dropped Economics”, the subject I worked hard in for
the last four terms.
I
do not regret that choice. In learning Physics, my wonder of the skies and
stars, fuelled by learning other stuff from an Astronomy book I borrowed the
library, opened up another wonderful field to me.
Also
in taking the Maths A course, I came in touch with another teacher (my Grade 12
teacher) who helped me a lot in the subject. She helped me learn how to really
master Maths and be comfortable to work with that subject.
In
university, towards the end of the first year, we (all UPNG science students)
chose to study specific strands in the second year onwards.
Two
of my best friends went on to study Medicine. I chose not to because the
hospital makes me feel sick.
A
second year Geology student came to our rooms and told us of all the good
things that Geology could bring us – including the money. Some of my friends
chose to study the subject and are now doing fairly well.
I
chose not to, because I was not interested in rocks, I was interested in the
stars and heavens, flying objects, Einstein, Newton and Kepler.
NOTE:
You have to make your own choice. But once made, you have to live with your
choice. That is true in many other aspects in life also.
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