Is it true that after selection all will be fine? Only education is important for happiness

DEGREE IN HAND, SELECTION DONE: HAPPINESS ASSURED?

Picture this: the degree ceremony is over, and you are holding your degree. Soon after, you clear the exam you’ve been preparing for. Your family goes full celebration mode, relatives can’t stop praising you, and your social media is basically a non-stop congratulations fest. For a few glorious moments, it really feels like… yes, I’ve made it. But then the noise dies down, life goes back to its usual rhythm. And you’re forced to wonder, wait.. so this is it? Another thought quietly emerges- does this milestone truly guarantee fulfilment, or is it just the beginning of a new set of challenges?

The Social Formula We Grow Up With

From our school days, we’re basically fed the same life hack: study hard → get a degree → crack a selection → life sorted → happiness guaranteed? Especially in middle-class India, this story is like gospel, education equals a ‘good life,’ and nothing else really matters. No wonder we all feel insane pressure. The thing is… reality rarely bothers to follow this neat little equation.

So if this is the formula we’ve all been sold, why do some people still hit the ‘perfect life’ marker and… feel nothing?

Cracks in the Dream: The Case of IAS Kashish Mittal

Take IAS officer Kashish Mittal, for example. The guy cleared one of India’s toughest exams, got into the administrative services. For most of us, that’s basically life done, dream achieved, check all boxes. And yet… he quit and follows his passion for classical Hindustani music. Surprising, right? But here’s the thing: even hitting the so-called ‘ultimate success’ doesn’t automatically bring happiness. You can have prestige, security, even applause… and still feel like something’s missing.

When Selection Isn’t the Final Stop

This is not an isolated case.  Tons of young people hit that selection letter moment and then… boom. A whole new set of stress hits. Pressure to perform, expectations from everyone around, office politics, endless competition. Suddenly the high of ‘I made it!’ feels kind of… short-lived. That ‘finish line’ everyone celebrated? Turns out, it’s more like a starting line in disguise. Sociologists even call it credential inflation, degrees and selections are increasingly common, but their ability to guarantee satisfaction or security is steadily weakening.

Redefining Fulfilment: Beyond Degrees and Jobs

Closer to home, our TRS community, founded by an ex-paramilitary officer and highly educated professional, stands as an example of someone using knowledge and experience not to chase conventional titles. But, to create something meaningful for others. Instead of climbing hierarchical ladders, he built a platform focused on learning, collaboration, and impact. His journey reminds us that fulfilment often comes from purpose, connection, and contribution, rather than just degrees, selections, or social recognition. 

Rethinking the Formula

So, is happiness assured once the degree is in hand and the selection letter arrives? Stories like those of Kashish Mittal and the founder of our TRS community suggest otherwise. A degree and a job are important milestones. They bring pride, recognition, and opportunity. But they are not guarantees of lasting happiness. Fulfilment comes from aligning achievement with purpose, and from learning how to live meaningfully beyond certificates and selections.

Perhaps the real exam we all need to clear is not the one on paper, but the one within the test of redefining what truly makes life worth living.