When I ask the typical question, “what do you want to be when you grow up” to my TMS students or other kids I meet in Hyderabad, the most common answer is software engineer. It makes me wonder what the answers were before the IT boom hit Hyderabad. Below I’m posting a homework assignment by one of my students, Meghana. The prompt was, “Think of one thing you are good at. Imagine that for one day you are the best in the world at that thing. Write about your day!” I’m surprised how sometimes we give short directions and the students totally get it, while other times, we try to give lots of direction and it’s confusing. Meghana’s response is not specific to one day but she does give many other clear details about her future goals. Though it’s not a digital story yet–it’s leading up to a project Ilana and I are calling “About Me & Super Me”–it is a modern story in its reflection Hyderabadi youths’ goals, as well as economic and societal expectations.

As some of my students like to write at the beginning of their assignments, please read and enjoy the story:

Meghana, Railway Girls High School

I think one day that i became a good worker in one good company as software engineer. I have to do good work in America. After some day’s and i come to India, first i see my parents. they should feel very happy. I buy one ‘car’ and my parent’s, my grandmother and my sister should go in that car. It is my dream. I should think I the best in the world and my aim. I will do that aim. On that time my parent’s feel very happy. I shall thank parent’s and my teacher. I shall thank to my project work teacher’s also. Again I should built one house. This is my ‘dream.’