A subconcious insecurity
My overall education started a bit late than normal people due to my fathers transfers and school admission rules. Consequently when I applied for JEE Advanced back in 2017 i was 19.5 years old. I got it but wasnt satisfied so dropped a year and got a better rank. I was 20.5 years old when I finally joined IIT. Somewhere subconciously throughout my college life i felt that I did achieve what I wanted to but really late. I know theres nothing I could do about it but this was something still killing me inside. Most of my batchmates where 18 year olds and even the ones who dropped where at most 19. I always wanted to pursue my masters and phd but somewhere at the back of my mind I feel I would have to go theough the same feelings again. It just kills me so much inside. Currently I have completed 2 years as a software engineer and I am 26 years old. On one part my mind tells me that I am made for much more than just an IT job and should go to academia. On the other hand it feels like I am too old for it. I dont know what to do. I am not able to rationalize my thoughts. I am not able to understand how can I bring myself to overcome my fears and achieve what i really want in life.
This quote I read - you will get old irrespective of your masters and PHD degrees too.
Might as well be old with them.
There are people who passed out at 23 and started job at 26 because they were preparing for UPSC and couldn’t qualify. There are people who started 1 year later because their offer got revoked or delayed. There is a friend who has still not started that journey because getting a job is tough in this market. Everyone has their own journey and you’ll always have overachievers and underachievers around you.
Masters is useless if you are thinking about CSE. It's just a glorified bootcamp.
A little controversial opinion: GV is filled with overachievers ranting about their first world problems.
Someone earning 70LPA crying about not finding a better job that pays more than 70lpa coz no company can afford that #sufferingfromsuccess
Someone from IIT again earning a ridiculously high amount talking about not finding a spouse coz his standards are set too high
Someone as young as 26 earns more than most people on this platform complaining about age??
I really can't empathize with these problems (except 2nd which can be solved if the guy just lowers his expectations a little)
I do hope your insecurity fades away with time but sorry brother I have no solution for this.
Probably you are right and I might be addressing the problem from a privileged point of view. But I thought it is something worth sharing. There's a possibility that If I have it in my mind then someone else has it too.
Comparison is the thief of joy. You’re just a late bloomer. Pretty sure there will be huge age range in masters & phd. So take the chance if u don’t want regrets. But make sure u have the financial safety net to spend years in academia.
DryGoodie55
Stealth
4 months ago
Dude, just get married and have a beautiful life ;) I think you are just searching for a purpose
hmm interesting, but academia is better than getting married bro, life changes 360 post marriage and he can't drop out from that once committed unlike academia
DryGoodie55
Stealth
4 months ago
But this fellow needs better life not academics, who knows he might become great dad material with unconditional love. I chased academics 20 yrs back, its not worth. my kid is in KG, now i cannot run behind him, its just age factor. My generation chased money for better living conditions, this generation is chasing money to live life on superficial conditions, so either way we forgot what is life
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I was always interested in acting. Got into acting school with similar fears. Fellow students will be much younger and in the world of acting, age, looks and glamour carry a lot of weight. Will I even fit in? Should I even pursue this interest anymore? Am I just being delusional about this whole thing. Never- ending doubts and insecurities.
I was 40yrs old and a parent too. I not only went on to complete that workshop, I got a lot of theatre and movie offers too. My key learning. Age is no bar for whatever you want to do in life. There's a place for everyone out there.
Go out there and do what you want to. 2-3yrs in a lifetime pursuing your interests is hardly anything-Even assuming that you don't succeed in that field.
Life is meant to be lived. Live it. Follow your dreams.
Bro... You gonna act in any movie or something... Please drop here..
Life is a journey about overcoming your fears and achieving your dreams .Follow your heart and remember that Life always is waiting for you to happen outside your comfort zone.This subconscious confusion itself is a message to follow your passion.Stay positive,have a flexible mindset and a strong stubborn patient heart to achieve your dreams. All the Best!
10-20 years from now, it won't matter if you were 'late' by 2-3 years to pursue your interests. We tend to compare ourselves with our immediate circle. Do whatever you please, there can be hundred reasons for not doing something, let age be not one of them.
I'm 26, completed my education right on time from a "never heard about" college. Started working immediately after graduation (BCA). Not from IIT, never pursued JEE, and having no plans for academia / research (despite I want to) since I have to provide for my family. Earning 17 LPA, way less than what I think I deserve. But pushing hard daily with freelance and self studying. You're better than me at 26. What's stopping you to push more buddy ? If your argument is "someone else did it before me or better than me", then you might as well start comparing yourself with those asian prodigies who did a triple Phd at 7. Get over it and strive for making yourself better each day.
kwarty
Student
4 months ago
guess what almost everyone i know have reduced their age, one of my friend was 1996 born and he reduced it to 2002
SuttaParatha
Student
4 months ago
6yrs???🙀
Blud skipped a whole generation 😹
kwarty
Student
4 months ago
he is preparing for government job 🙂
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Humans are not born solely for IT jobs or academia; there are other activities that can only be pursued at certain ages. For instance, playing professional sports or traveling extensively might be more feasible when you're younger. Life is inherently complex. We are constantly faced with choices that affect both ourselves and others.
For example, you might choose to spend time with family over working overtime, or pursue a passion project instead of a more traditional career path. Keep in mind that you will live with the memories of both the choices you made and the ones you didn't. These future memories, like remembering a missed chance to travel or a decision to start a business, can guide you in making better decisions. Try to think from the perspective of your future self. Would you regret not taking a certain opportunity? This approach can help you choose more wisely.
You can go for PhD or masters. Don't consider age. I have done my masters after 24. Couple of my friends did master after 28. One of my master seniors has done MBA this year from MIT as second master degree.
Think outside the box. Throw all age related milestones out of your life and go with the flow. Life is a marathon not a 100 metre dash. If you consider yourself "old" to do something at 26, I really worry about you and your mental state of mind. We have enough people around us to pull us down without doing it ourselves.
Why take yourself so seriously ? Enjoy your life man. Be grateful for what you have
When you look back all that matters is have you done what you wanted to pursue, did you follow your heart. You can't get back to what you are now and may not get back this time. Hence, do what you want to do unless someone else is dependent on you and you do not have an arrangement for them.
Have you met any aspirants, UPSC or any central competitive exam prep students? I have seen people 8-9 years after their graduation, still preparing hard. Working whatever short term job they get for pennies and still having the "big dream". I saw few achieved it and others settled for little less. But neither of them felt I was late. It is what it takes, time and perseverance. All the best for your PhD. Go for it, you're never late.
P.S. my uncle completed his LLM at the age of 58 when he was supposed to retire. He just refused to retire and continued his practice with more strength and knowledge he had ever before.
