Bushy background on choosing the right career
In contemporary times, choosing a career has become a difficult task for students. Children as young as 7-8 years are bombarded with the routine question "What do you want to become in life?” at homes, in schools, in social gatherings with their parents, and in their neighbourhoods, almost on a daily basis. Depending on the intentions, this question can be classified as a ‘polite inquiry’, a genuine hunch, or sometimes, a deliberate teasing. Regardless of the intentions, nonetheless, asking this routine question displays inanity. How can a child, at such an early age, know what he or she wants to become in life? This simply defies logic. But even at the risk of sounding silly and immature every time, people keep uttering this question. There is a reason for it.
For decades now, people have been constantly fed with the notion that the world out there is tough; there is so much competition. If you do not brace yourself early for the challenge, you will be left behind. And to gear up for the challenge, you need to start early, and in turn, you have to decide early what your life’s ultimate goal is. Despite the absence of empirical research to substantiate such claims, almost all of us fall into this trap. While pushing a child toward defining a career path at an early age, do we ever think about whether the child knows anything about the medical, engineering, or management professions? The answer is a clear ‘no’. We just follow the trend. But the pertinent question is, ‘What is the ideal way, if not the best way, to shape the young minds to brace up for the challenge?". This article intends to take a less popular stance on this subject and, in doing so, Insightfultake will attempt to give a constructive alternative perspective.
Tough Competition: Myth vs. Reality?
Unequivocally, the level of competition for seats in good universities and colleges has gradually increased over the years. This is, more or less, true for every country. The bar has constantly been raised for the candidates vying for a government job or a seat in medical, engineering, management, and other fields of study. This is no exception, given that India is the most populous country on the planet. In fact, India conducts the world’s second and third toughest exams in the world: IIT JEE and UPSC (IAS/IPS) in the respective order. The Gaokao exam in China, a national-level competitive exam for choosing a variety of subjects, is considered the toughest as it not only requires knowledge but also strategic planning and mental endurance. In the case of India, the competition is constantly increasing because of the large number of aspirants added every year and the paucity of institutions commensurate with the population size. Another reason is the government’s apathy toward public education.
Coping with the Tough Competition
Day in and day out, children's lives are chastised for not being serious, not paying enough attention, or not making enough sacrifices to achieve their goals. They are constantly bombarded with motivational stories. Examples of successful personalities fly thick and fast. Quotes such as “dreams are not that which you see while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep," “if you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun," “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” and a multitude of similar quotes by famous personalities. Motivational quotes or talks appeal to emotions that have a transient effect on the human mind. The effect is felt not because of the power of words but because of the setting in which they are articulated—a kind of halo effect that shrouds the cognitive domain of a person temporarily. Once he or she exits that setting, the halo effect subsides, even to the extent that the person fails to recall what was said.
While we incessantly talk about the achievers in life, we never bother to ask why they achieved what they achieved. Was Newton destined to become Newton? Had anyone predicted that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi would become Mahatma Gandhi? If ever someone had told me that APJ Abdul Kalam would be called the ‘Missile Man of India’? Mahatma Gandhi was just another Indian in South Africa prior to that fateful incident whereby he was thrown out of a train’s first-class compartment that changed his entire life. He spent the rest of his life fighting for the rights of people. Newton had found a purpose in the apple that fell from a tree.
With a global culture driven by mass consumerism, people are forced to live a life characterized by tough competition, first for jobs, and later on, to continue to be worthy of that job. This is one reason children are constantly reminded of the harsh world out there. This article, in no way, outlines steps to be successful in a particular competition. It emphasizes the approach that people adopt, keeping in mind the societal trend.
Parents and teachers have a role to play in shaping the worldview of children. Instead of creating a fear psychosis among the children about the tough competition, they should work more on helping them choose the right career track. It has been a common practice that kids are told to choose certain careers, for instance, engineering, medicine, or business, to secure their future. This becomes so ingrained in the psyche of young kids that they become fearful of their future if they fail to crack the X, Y, or Z competition. The reality is that CAT, XAT, IIT-JEE, NEET, and UPSC are not everyone’s cup of tea. Getting success in such competitions requires a certain mentality that every aspirant may not possess.
First of all, students should choose to do something they really believe in. Choosing a career merely at the behest of their parents or societal pressure is nothing but harakiri. Second, once a decision has been made, they should enjoy doing it rather than feeling burdened. That is why the judicious selection of a career path is vital. Thirdly, consistency is something that separates the extraordinary from the ordinary. Research has shown that if someone remains consistent in his or her efforts for at least six months, it can put him or her 4-5 years ahead of others who are inconsistent. There is another side to it. If you are consistent, you will not repent of anything. That is, you would not develop the feeling that you were sacrificing or unnecessarily compromising your life. Think of people like Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps.
They created history because they enjoyed what they did. Fourth, the quality of being committed is another trait that separates you from the confused milieu. And last but not least, your passion for what you do will surely take you to your cherished destination. So, students, make an informed career choice and enjoy what you choose; navigating through a tough competition would become a stroll in the park!
Opinion expressed by:
Dr. Md. Intekhab Alam Khan
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science
Nazir Ajmal Memorial College of Education (Hojai), Assam