JOIN USRemember those hobby classes in school where you could learn what you liked? However these days, hobbies like stamp collecting, dancing, singing and painting seem to be limited only to school.
College students, especially engineering and medical students, are constantly reminded of the competition around them because of which they are unable to give time to their hobbies.
With increasing pressure from college as well as parents for a better career, which is only possible through studies and a hands-on experience, students tend to neglect their hobbies. Even during vacations, they either go for training or take up internships that will add value to their resume. Metrolife speaks to a few youngsters to find out if hobbies are taking a backseat in their lives.
Krishna Raythatha, a technical analyst, says a large number of students are not giving time for hobbies. “During my college days, I did not get time to pursue any hobby. We were pressurised with studies. I used to play football when I was in school but I completely stopped that after joining college. I had also joined the NCC, which had brought me closer to my dream of joining the army. Once you start pursuing a hobby, there is immense pressure from everyone about doing well in life. There are a lot of constraints which stop you from pursuing it.”
Agreeing with Krishna, Sanskrit Singh, an engineering student, says, “Coin and stamp collection were my hobbies during school and PUC. But I don’t have the time to pursue them now. I have a lot of academic work and it’s tough to continue pursuing a hobby after PUC. It is very rare to find an engineering student pursuing any hobby.”
Even during vacations, students are unable to take time out for hobbies. “During vacations, I give as less time as possible to my hobbies. That’s because we get holidays once in six months and like to spend them sleeping and lazing around,” says Sanskrit.
Students pursuing degree courses have ample of time for their extracurricular work.
Anubhav Gupta, a fourth year engineering student, says, “Medical and engineering students get little or no time to pursue their hobbies. Many of my friends, who are pursuing a degree, have ample of time to do what they like as their classes are of short duration. With studies becoming a hurdle for engineering and medical students, they are unable to get involved in hobbies.”
Rohit Ranjan, a final year student of engineering, says, “While studying, you don’t have the time to pursue your hobby as college life is hectic. I used to play snooker earlier. But after joining my engineering course, I stopped playing the game. Now I’m too occupied with placement and studies.” He feels that during the vacation, it is compulsory for engineering students to go for training. “Ours is a completely competition-driven world and if we give time to hobbies, we lose out on studies and career. Even if one has the time, one must be involved in career-related activities,” he adds.
Pradeep Kumar, an engineering student, says they have to start planning their career in the first year itself and focus entirely on studies. “I used to play football in school. Since now I’m busy with internals and studies, I miss playing the game a lot,” he sums up.