Slice of Life: ‘I want to become an IPS officer and make my parents proud’

I am from a village near Kabisthalam in Thanjavur district. About three months ago, I came to Chennai to study here. The village I come from does not have any facilities to pursue higher education but, my father had a dream that I should become an IPS officer. Though I wanted to become a drawing artist by profession since it is my all-time hobby, I started to prepare for UPSC exams. Since I wanted to keep up with my father’s dream above my interests, I do drawings occasionally. My family which consists of my father, mother and siblings is living in my village. During the initial days, it was difficult to adjust in Chennai. Things like food, traffic, water were not suiting me. I initially fell sick when I came here and had to return to my native since I was admitted to hospital. However, I was determined that I want to study further, and I came back here after a month. I am currently continuing my studies here. But I don’t like the city life. My parents have put in all their hard earned money to make me study. Hence, I have to study well and become an officer. I feel discriminated due to the lifestyle and dressing sense that I have from those in the city.