Article by: Ms Shaheen Islam (Senior Counsellor, ICS)
Edited by: Ms Sanchita Dwivedi
“Have you ever tried potatoes sautéed in coriander sauce?” was the surprise query by the young lady* who doubled as my chef. I had to be honest and answered in the negative. This was the first time I had ever heard about it, leave alone tried it!
I was not surprised though, as the talented youngster seemed to have magical fingers when it came to whipping up some of the most appetising concoctions from the most mundane of ingredients. It was also a pleasure to watch her carefully caress the greens or gently massage the produce before putting them under the knife and no-one ever missed the dreamy smile on her countenance as she went about her job!
Very soon she went on to make a name for herself in her chosen field, thoroughly enjoying herself in the process!
I often wondered what motivated her to do what she did and do it so well, seeing she came from humble beginnings without ever stepping into a school or any other formal mode of education.
What makes discovering one’s true calling a challenge?
Despite the plethora of help available at each step: advice from parents and peers, suggestions from teachers and facilitators and consultations with counsellors and mentors, how come it is so difficult for many of us to discover ourselves and our true calling? And, with a dearth of any such resources whatsoever, how come it was so easy for her to find her passion?
To understand the answer to these questions, let’s go through another anecdote – this one from the life of a young man who was studying at a top engineering institute of the country at that time.
The engineering student who should have been a chef
It was a balmy evening when a distinguished but despairing couple walked into our office with a handsome young man* in tow. All the while, he sat with his head bowed and we wondered what could be the reason for his despondency.
We learnt soon enough…
He was in the second year of engineering at one of the premiere institutes of the country, and had been a topper throughout his school years. He was also the apple of his parents’ eyes and a fun-loving person who would fill the house with his joyful laughter.
But all that changed once he joined the technology institute. That is when the distraught parents decided to have a counselling session – to fathom the reason behind their son’s desolation.
As it turned out, he was and had always been a very creative person – deeply interested in everything culinary. He was the happiest when he was trying out his hand in the kitchen, but had decided to go for a technology degree as that was what his parents wanted for him.
His parents had no doubt that since he had been a brilliant student, with straight As in the sciences, he would naturally make a brilliant engineer!
Luckily, by the time they came for counselling, his parents were certain they didn’t want an unhappy son. When the session ended, they realised that they’d rather have a happy chef than a dispirited techie in the family.
This young man, then, dropped out of the engineering institute and went on to complete his Master’s degree in Culinary Arts. Today, he is a ‘Michelin Star Chef’ in the United States of America.
Don’t leave the most important to chance!
More often than not, we understand too late in life that what should have been most important for us was left to chance – sometimes due to a lack of self-awareness and introspection, sometimes due to misconceptions and insufficient information, and sometimes, as in the young man’s case, due to family pressure.
The lesson I learnt from the smart young lass who treated me to exotic cuisines on a daily basis for the better part of my life and the techie-turned-chef is that happiness lies in doing what you love and do best.
To do that, the first step is self-realisation: knowing yourself and what lies within. The next is to get informed and plan. Then, just go ahead and do it – resolutely overriding all the obstacles that stand in your way.
(* Names withheld to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned)
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Enjoyed reading Shaheen Islam’s anecdotal article which eloquently highlights the message of making your passion your profession.
Thank you, Dr Dass, for those lovely words of appreciation!
Very well written article!
Thank you for your appreciation!
Happiness is fundamental for job satisfaction and success in life.
Interesting article, enjoyed reading it!