UP: Unfazed by Covid, students firm on moving out to study

LUCKNOW: For the past one year, Aeshita Marwah (18) has been preparing for Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) examination to get a seat in National Law University, Delhi or Cuttack.
The coronavirus pandemic and lockdown left her uncertain and demotivated for few days, but she recovered and stuck to her plan. “Planning to study in a different city and preparing for exam is a long process. I have invested too much, both mentally and financially, so altering the plan because of the situation at the moment does not seem a wise decision. Last year, I fell short by a few marks. My only goal this year is to get admission in NLU, Delhi or Cuttack. No matter how late the admissions get, I will go,” said Marwah, who aspires to be a criminal lawyer. And she is not the only one to stick to her plan.
Despite the pandemic disrupting life and work, many students are still ready to leave their hometowns to pursue careers.
Sahiba Kaur, a fashion designing aspirant, has been convincing her father to let her go to Mumbai for studies. “No parent would want to send their child to another city during pandemic. My mother is firm that if I go to Mumbai, I will stay with a relative. There is no designing institute in Lucknow, and I cannot give up my dream to study in the fashion capital of our country, nor am I willing to drop a year,” added Kaur, a resident of Alambagh. Rishabh Razdan is already pursuing his studies in Noida and refuses to defer his postgraduation plan.
“Most students are anxious about their future since competitive examinations have been put on hold and admissions postponed. I still want to pursue my MBA in Delhi,” he said.
Some students are, however, keeping Lucknow colleges as a backup option. “I want to do masters in business administration after graduation. I will apply in Delhi University and some Mumbai and Bengaluru colleges, but have kept Lucknow as a backup option. Though my parents are now scared to send me out, I want to focus on my studies,” said Utkarsh Goel, who plans to do bachelors in business administration.
Prashant Bajpai, an English honours aspirant has applied in Lucknow University also but is aiming for admission in Delhi University. “If I get a seat in Delhi, I will have to find an accommodation. I hope this coronavirus ends by the time DU completes admissions,” he added.
(With inputs from Vidushi Agarwal)