‘The professors at this institute were extremely cooperative’

Left: Agastya Douglas Volz with his mother Sudha, younger brother and father

Be it which school should a child go to or which college is the best, parents are always invested in their children’s lives especially when it comes to education. While most students do a lot of research on where to study, the parents have an equal say in this decision-making.

Though for some parents their child’s comfort level comes first as was the case in case of Sudha and her husband when it came to the admission of their elder son – Agastya Douglas Volz – who this year passed out of Apeejay Stya University-School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“My son has borderline Asperger’s Syndrome. We were told by the career counsellor that he needs to do a programme that imparts practical work. That is why we were looking at a course in Mass Communication to begin with. But sadly due to COVID-19, that didn’t happen much but it started out on a great note.

In an impromptu interview, this mother talks about how her son wants to be voice artist among other things.

Had you heard of Apeejay Stya University?

Not really. Three years back, we were looking at colleges for Agastya. Around that time, he went for a camp that was organised by Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC) in Dwarka on filmmaking. That is when we were told about Apeejay Stya University (ASU). But he had already got admission in the Bennett University and we had even paid the fee. But when we went to see ASU, saw the campus and met with Professor Sanjay Ahirwal, Dean at School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Apeejay Stya University, my son fell in love with the university.

How were his days at School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC)?

I think he liked it for the time that he spent there. He was very comfortable at the university which was extremely important for us. We wanted an institute where he would be comfortable. It didn’t matter whether it was private or University of Delhi where my younger son is studying. Our aim was to make my son feel at ease wherever he went.

What are his future plans?

He wants to be a voice artist and doing documentaries as a voice over artist. After his graduation, he underwent a voice training and now he has been given this opportunity with this NGO where he is doing his internship. He plans to work for a couple of years, then do his masters and then move to the US and work there.

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“There are so many opportunities today in different fields that open doors to plethora of newage jobs. It makes it easy for parents to be good with whatever their child wants to pursue. A few decades back, there were limited choices – be a doctor, an engineer or a teacher. Today, things are different”

–Sudha, Mother of Alumnus of Apeejay Stya University-School of Journalism and Mass Communication

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Parents are open letting their children pursue newage jobs. What has changed?

There are so many opportunities today in different fields that open doors to plethora of newage jobs. It makes it easy for parents to be good with whatever their child wants to pursue. A few decades back, there were limited choices – be a doctor, an engineer or a teacher. Today, things are different.

Also, it all boils down to what your child is happy doing and comfortable with. It is wrong of parents to want to live our dreams through their kids. This is an absolute no-no. The mantra should be – if the child is happy, so should be the parents.

How would rate his SJMC days?

He was very happy. His first, the whole routine of going to the college, coming back happy and wanting to go back the next day was a big thing for us. He really enjoyed the course till the pandemic hit in March 2020. While everything was good, ASU took steps to shift to online and their excellent staff took charge of everything smoothly; his professors knew about his condition and did everything to make him comfortable.

But Agastya was a bit dejected since there was no practical working happening. But he did manage to complete his course; he did a three course. Even though the programme is for four. But Professor Ahirwal was kind enough to let him do the three-year course and now Agastya is doing his internship.