Be an Asset!

'Be an asset, NOT a liability! Your endeavour in life should be to become an asset to your parents, society and the nation'. This was one of the many advices my high school English teacher gave us. Though I didn't understand much of it then, having lived more than half a century, I understand how important that advice was. He used to say that when you grow up, you should be self-reliant and financially independent as early as possible.

- DENNY JOSEPH

'Don't ever become a liability to your parents in their old age'. I was fortunate enough to join the Indian Navy before I was 19 and since then, I never had to depend on my parents for my financial needs. Rather, I was able to continue my education, buy my own clothes, travel to places, and even support my parents financially very early in life.

We all come into this world, live in this world for some time and leave this world when our time comes. The world was there before us and will continue to be there after us. Our parents give us an opportunity to see this beautiful world and they take care of us for even more than two decades. They fulfill most of our basic needs, many of our wants and some of our wishes, and they fulfill their responsibility of our upbringing. Your parents' priorities change after your birth, you become their priority and their life revolves around you for many years. They sacrifice many of their needs just for you. Your arrival might have caused extra financial burdens on them, yet they worked extra or took loans to meet those needs.

Most parents go beyond their limits and make many sacrifices to educate their child and also ensure his/ her safety, security and success. Ultimately, every parent looks forward to the day when their child becomes self-reliant and stands on his/her feet. All their prayers seem to be answered when they see their child take up a job with a decent salary to fulfill his/her dreams and earn the respect of society. Parents take pride in your achievements and let you live your dreams. Some children immediately begin to pay back their educational loans and ease the financial burdens of their parents.