"Why Should I Study?" - Rommal Surana
- Neel Writes
- Jul 3, 2025
- 2 min read
A distressed mother contacted me for counselling, her voice heavy with frustration. "My child refuses to study," she said. "How do we motivate him?" I scheduled a family session. When they arrived—mother, father, and their 12-year-old son—the parents immediately voiced their struggles.
The father lamented, "He’s brilliantly intelligent but stubbornly resists studying. He grasps concepts instantly yet refuses to write exams."
The mother added tearfully, "वो पढ़ने बैठता ही नहीं!" (He won’t even sit down to study!).
I invited the boy—Mayank, a seventh-grader—into my cabin alone. His calm demeanor surprised me. Before I could ask questions, he leaned forward and said:
"Aunty, please tell me honestly—why should we study? Is it just to make parents proud of our grades? Do high marks prove we truly understand things? What if someone scores poorly but knows the subject deeply?"
He continued, his tone logical and unwavering:
"Papa says, ‘How will you earn without studying?’ But that’s not true. I’ve attended a stock-trading masterclass and opened my own demat account. I could be an influencer or entrepreneur. You know college dropouts who’ve changed the world. So why this pressure?"
His eyes locked onto mine, awaiting an answer.
I responded carefully:
"Mayank, you’re right—earning doesn’t require traditional study. But every path demands learning. To influence, you need communication skills. To trade stocks, you need financial literacy. Even dropouts study relentlessly—just differently. Your real question isn’t ‘Why study?’ but ‘Why study this way?’"
He nodded vigorously:
"Exactly! Why must I learn things with no future impact? Why can’t I solve real-world problems instead?"
"You absolutely can," I affirmed. "Options like NIOS, homeschooling, or vocational courses exist for focused, practical learning. But these work only if you’re crystal clear about your goals. If you’re still exploring—and most 12-year-olds are—traditional school serves a purpose: it exposes you to diverse subjects, activities, and ideas you might discover you love."
I paused, letting this sink in.
"So the question shifts, Mayank. Before choosing your path, ask yourself: *How clear are you about what you want from life?
The room fell silent. For the first time, his defiant expression softened into contemplation.
- By Romal Surana
(Child and Adolescent Counsellor)
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