As a child, I was blithely unaware of what I wanted to be when I grew up. I always lived in the moment then and the moment consisted of a cycle ride to school, engaging in my classes, playing sports, and other happy activities. I got good marks in most subjects, except for mathematics. After school, I spent my time going to the neighborhood library, borrowing books, and reading them on the car ride back home. I was a voracious reader and read all of the children’s books available to me then. But I still didn’t have an idea as to what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I went to six different schools and in every school, I usually topped the class in English. It was when I was in class nine that my English teacher in school suggested I become a copywriter. I wasn’t sure what the job description of a copywriter was back then. At some point in time, I entertained the notion that I should become an English newsreader. But I didn’t follow through with it. It was just a passing thought.
After doing my bachelor’s degree in economics, I went on to a post-graduate degree in journalism and mass communication. I simultaneously started writing for supplements of The Hindu and The New Indian Express as a freelancer. A family friend told us about how ITES had scope. This was in the early 2000s. So, after a stint with a greeting card company as a copywriter, I became a copy editor with an e-learning company. I worked with several IT majors after that as an editor and in some cases as a writer of marketing collateral. And yes, I eventually worked as a copywriter, too, in an advertising agency.
Two decades later, I’m an editorial consultant and I edit press releases, newsletters, case studies, blogs, articles, press notes, etc. I like what I do. Although I was largely clueless all through my childhood about what I wanted to be when I grew up, I knew I loved words and I would enjoy anything to do with the written word. I’m happy I found my way.
This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop.
6 Responses
You seem to have a very clear idea of what you wanted to be very early in life. In my case there was a lot of dillydallying before I chose IT. An excellent writeup.
Thank you for reading and appreciating!
Happy to meet this side of Aishwariya
and how amazing that you ended up doing what your teacher had seen right in the 9th grade!
It’s lovely to know that unknowingly also you are doing what you love and naturally you are good at. I was also good at English than any other subject and little did I know that journalism is more than social science subjects that I hated at that time.
Happy to get your feedback on the article. All the best!