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Do Classmates Have Similar Life Pattern ?

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by jayasala42, Sep 29, 2025.

  1. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    *CLASSMATES AND THE TRICKERY OF LIFE :*
    There is something both amusing and tragic about classmates.
    When we are young, sitting side by side in stiff wooden desks, everything feels equal.
    We wear the same uniforms, complain about the same teachers, and dream the same big dreams.
    We believe, with the foolish confidence of youth, that life will reward us fairly.
    That the one who topped the class will top in life, that the one who struggled will always struggle, that effort will always equal success.
    But life is not a classroom. Life is a trickster, a mischievous storyteller who loves plot twists.
    Then one day, years later, we meet again at ordinations, weddings, funerals, airports, or by accident at a supermarket.
    And suddenly, we see what nobody warned us about.
    The boy who never did his assignments now owns a mansion.
    The one who won all the academic prizes is still searching for relevance.
    The one who was always quiet now commands boardrooms, while the one who once led every debate now sits in silence, waiting for an opportunity that refuses to come.
    And we ask ourselves: how did this happen?
    Nobody told us that life does not follow the rules of the classroom.
    That hard work is important, but so is luck.
    That intelligence is valuable, but connections sometimes matter more.
    That some rise not because they are the best, but because they were in the right place at the right time.
    That life does not grade us like exam scripts, it rolls the dice and sometimes, the results are baffling.
    There is a good side to all of these: no matter how far life scatters us, when classmates meet again, the years disappear.
    Titles do not matter. Bank accounts do not speak.
    We laugh over memories of forgotten nicknames, of teachers we swore we would never forget but now struggle to remember.
    For a brief moment, we return to a time when we were just young with dreams, before life stepped in with its unexpected script.
    And just maybe, that is the real lesson :
    *Success in life is not just about who has more, but about who still has a heart that can reach and remember his friends!!*
    Author Unknown..!!
    True,it reminds us that not everything depends on ability, and luck plays a big role.
    Those people who are successful, are not there merely because of luck, they have something that the others don't have.
    The topper in school is good in academic book learning. That is a useful skill, and indicates above average intelligence.
    The person who clears the entrance exam to that IIT or IIM, is good at clearing entrance exams. Does that mean they will do well in the course? Not necessarily. If they do well in the course, does that mean they will do well in life? Again, not necessarily.
    Life is a multi dimensional journey. The person who is good in one or two of those dimensions, may not be good at others. Like people connect, or deal making, or sniffing opportunity. Or like perseverance, resilience, determination. Or discipline, the sheer doggedness to just show up, and do the same thing day after day, till they succeed. Or the ability to not get attracted to low hanging fruit, and to aim for the more difficult ones higher up. The ability to spot those fruits in the first place...
    Anyone who is lucky enough to find a vocation that aligns with their innate interests and capabilities, is likely to succeed and be happier at the same time.
    What about the ability to be happy, in the face of whatever life throws at them? The optimist who gets more out of life than the nihilist, who despairs at everyone and everything?
    Anyone who succeeds in politics or business, for example, has a bunch of other skills, honed over time, which the CEO of a large company may not have. The CEO in turn, has a bunch of different skills which makes them excel at their game.
    Finally, the one you respect is the person who has chosen their path, found their purpose, and through sheer dint of perseverance and hard work, has risen to the top in their chosen field.
    There is no one template to live life. There is no one template to measure success.
    JAYASALA 42
     
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  2. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    I agree here; it is a myth. It reminds me of a character in movie “three idiots” where top ranking student is in good books of principal but he proved to be a top class idiot when it involves application of mind and intelligence. The accolades, shields and approbation all limited to campus and once out in the real world, the young man is expected to act smart. The mugged up essays and formulae are of no use.

    Indeed. In school we have lessons first, afterwards test but in life test first lessons later!

    Smart work is needed in this world to succeed in every sphere of activities. There is no question of Lady Luck to shower blessings. Listen more speak less and be with right people at the right time and speak at the right opportunity.

    Very very important in modern world. A career progression requires good camaraderie hobnobbing and utilising friends and peers and networking of kith and kin if they are at helm.

    indeed. I have friends some of whom were bullying others and last benchers who in later years found at helm in their profession by sheer street smartness. I met few who were top in the class but even with their doctorate and or phds, now in low key in life. Life is certainly a gamble .

    it is a fact. In +2 they scored 98 or 99% because of extra coaching and taught to mug up and memorise but never taught to apply the knowledge. This results always in engineering first year many fail in all subjects which invariably results in dropouts.


    Agreed. But there are cases where chemistry grads working in bank while commerce grad operate lathe. But once they start learning their job and begin love to work, they remain happy with that status.
    I had after graduation in science did engineering with specialisation in automobile engine gearbox transmission designs and was employed in Defence for 7 years and the work was out and out related to vehicle manufacture.
    An ad of UPSC seen by spouse in a news paper wrapped around groceries resulted my joining another govt organisation. They did not post me to London office nor ever they assigned me work related to my experience in design & manufacture. They posted me to oversee shipping work which I had to do from a clean slate. I managed to learn quickly the ropes and got accolades and approbation. It would remind you my thread about getting idea or guidance from my spouse to overcome predicament about a work that is not covered in office bible!
     
  3. SGBV

    SGBV IL Hall of Fame

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    That’s a wonderful reflection.

    It reminds me of my recent school reunion in London, where many of us came together from different parts of the world. For a moment, it felt like we were still in the classroom as teenagers, unchanged. But the truth is, life has transformed us in countless ways.

    What we were taught about success in school is very different from real-life success. Often, people mistake luck or connections for true success because they find it hard to accept that an average-looking person can thrive in cinema, or an average student can grow to become a CEO. Meanwhile, those once seen as “most likely to succeed” may turn out to be just ordinary later in life.

    Life is multi-dimensional, and real success comes from being consistently good at many things. And yes, luck often favours those who work both hard and smart.
     
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  4. Anbhu

    Anbhu Silver IL'ite

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    "The person who clears the entrance exam to that IIT or IIM, is good at clearing entrance exams. Does that mean they will do well in the course? Not necessarily. If they do well in the course, does that mean they will do well in life? Again, not necessarily."

    I do not agree with this. A person who clears the entrance exam to that IIT or IIM with top ranks, will definitely maintain above average performance in course work.
     
  5. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    "I do not agree with this. A person who clears the entrance exam to that IIT or IIM with top ranks, will definitely maintain above average performance in course work."

    So true. Keeping above AVERAGE PERFORMANCE is some achievement at base level
    which can be done even by a third class graduate.The question is whether an IIT topper maintains the highest
    standard expected of him.

    JAYASALA 42
     
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  6. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    DEAR SGBV,
    THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

    JAYASALA 42
     
  7. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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  8. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    DEAR SHRI THYAGARAJAN,

    Thank you for your wonderful views,
    JAYASALA 42
     
  9. Anbhu

    Anbhu Silver IL'ite

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    Yes they do maintain that standard for sure. Where would the intelligence and hard work he put in clearing the IIT entrance and secure top ranks would go? I have done some look ups on those who have scored top ranks in National tests and after some years their progress they still keep up their standards.
     

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