These youngsters think beyond cutoffs and IITs

Gurgaon: It's that time of the year when high school students anxiously await their board exam results and worry about entrance tests to prestigious institutes, while their parents spend sleepless nights hoping they crack the roof high cutoff entrance marks at top colleges.
Little thought is given to what the Class XII board results really represent - an individual's performance on certain subjects in a particular examination.While success stories of toppers are flashed in the media, TOI decided to look at some students who have chosen to pursue their passions in life, rather than following the oft-trodden paths.
Sahaj Arora, a Class XI student, has talent that would make many youngsters go green with envy. Arora, 16, plays 10 different musical instruments and says he has never had trouble picking up a new instrument. "I started playing tabla when I was six by watching Doordarshan and playing on school desks and dining tables. My teachers would complain, but did I care?" SAYS Arora.
With Gavin Harrison, Shivamani, Zakir Hussain and the Wadali brothers as inspiration, he wants to become a music director. He is currently enrolled in a music programme from Trinity College, London. While percussion is his favourite - he owns and plays drums, tabla, dholak, matka, manjira and tambourine - he also plays the piano, keyboards, guitar and flute, and practices 2-4 hours every day.
Another Class XI student, Saadhak Chandola, hopes to convert his passion for football into profession. Chandola wants to turn pro, and spends 5-6 hours every day in practice. "I love playing football and would do anything to play it for life," said Chandola, adding though it was a bit scary choosing between studies and football given the scope of soccer in India, his love for the game gave him strength to tide over the dilemma. "The drive to win must be greater than the fear of failure," said the budding footballer. He represents Haryana at the national level and hopes to make the national team. His favourite club is Real Madrid and favourite player Cristiano Ronaldo.
Class XII student Ritika Yadav too hopes to represent the country. The budding tennis star said, "I want to play and win Grand Slams." She has already represented Haryana, and was selected by CBSE to represent India at a tournament in Japan in 2014. All this has come at a cost, though. As she is finding it difficult to manage her time between tennis and classes, her parents are planning to put her up for private studies.
Mother Deepa Yadav said, "It was scary, as we thought it would affect her chances at a successful career. But seeing her passion, we decided to let her follow her dream." It helped that both Deepa and her husband have interest in sports.
The stories don't end here, with so many pursuing theatre, technology and sports, while others becoming teenage entrepreneurs. By allowing it's youth to follow their dreams, India might just be growing up.