What if he fails for once ?

"...I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep" . All of us have studied this at school. Made immortal by Robert Frost , probably the last of the great English poets , these lines carry a deeper meaning - that of responsibilities and attachement. So a week ago, as I was reading an article on higher education , I couldnt help but relate it to this line from "Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening".

The article was about the main purposes of education and university - "of creating thinking minds rather than serving bodies". In a candid writing , a professor at Yale describes the mind sets of people from the top universities and compares them with the "rest". For most of us while university education in the form of an MBA , or a higher degree in one's field of interest, is a gateway to a better career, life and money, there is no question that we are running a rat race. In a burst for a "Success" defined by the society under the framework of intense peer pressure and competition , the true essence of education is missing. No I am not complaining about going for an MBA or any higher degree. It is quite important that one gets a specialization as it imparts him different knowledge and helps him excel. The question is Is this what I really want to do ?. Eight years ago, when Information System or IT was certainly witnessing an upward trajectory I just followed my parents' and seniors' advice to opt for it as my undergrad major. Not that I regret that decision, it certainly has it's advantages but in retrospect , I would have certainly opted for a degree that teaches me more about the world of business coz I realize that is what I want to do - learn more on how to operate businesses.

Under this context , I started thinking about the verse from the poem; Did he make those promises because he wanted to make them or were they forced upon him by the society?. Were they so important as to not even let him take a break to enjoy a view which even he agreed was glorious. His horse realized that it is not a regular stop so was his heart aching for a change?. So through this poem was Frost upholding the values of society , commitments, family and bondings above an individual ?. Certainly the central character is that of a person in his old age, so wasn't he justified in thinking once for himself. What if he didn't keep a promise ?. What if he fails for once?. He would have certainly been happier that he atleast followed his heart.