This is just to call starting of the new year that’s certainly shaping its way by already surpassing more than a month, the exam season has arrived to highlight the perks of student life that essentially include pressure, stress and strain. Whether the semester exams of colleges and universities have commenced or dates of high and senior secondary boards have arrived, one could find student fraternity all focused at the same time anguish, anxiety and apprehensive about the conduct and completion of exams but the anxiety doesn’t end here, it takes a level up because of the expectations and thoughts of family, friends and relatives. It will start with the questions like how’s your exam preparation going?
Are you going to take the exams? What percentile do you think you would achieve in forthcoming annual regular exams? Then It will pass with statements like now in a few days we will get to know if you are smart enough or It was just your parents saying, they will not just stop here then to elongate the conversation by making the student more suffocated, spooked and skittish to feel about there question list will say that What subjects are you going to opt after your 10 th class boards PCM or PCB or PCMB as if there’s nothing in this entire universe other than Maths Or Biology as if all other professions other
then doctors and engineers are futile, it’s just that they have good package and high social status but this concept is entirely wrong and places no ground in society as a society that’s regarded as a web of relationships needs all professionals from Plumber to Mason to Author to Philanthropist to Chartered Account to Baker to Actor to Teacher, so on and so fore and of any portion of the pyramid falls there would be imbalance in equilibrium of the society and there would be a sort of eerie atmosphere around the clock as if something is left behind.
This pressure from Parents/ Relatives/ Society to become only a doctor/ engineer and if not either of the two then a Grade A Government Official will only prove one to be good enough. These are all unworthy and superstitious prejudices that are unfortunately prevailing in present-day society and are a matter of fact to be concerned about. Thinking about the future ruins the present possibilities that could come a long way. Every individual has his/her right to live life according to his aspirations and dreams. To live life on one’s principles and choose a definite path to reach a specified goal in life, Guidance and Mentoring are necessary. It shows one a definite and specified path without twists and turns. Yes, experiences are the very own of an individual and journey belongs to one as well but Career Counselling and Guidance shows aspiring and enthusiastic teens and young adults the right path to reach the place they deserve without wasting their precious years and uncountable time that could fade away in time pass without proper guidance.
Most importantly, an educator should be allowed to choose subjects and professions of his/her own choice irrespective of regret in future. Here, comes a way for Career counselling and Mentoring programs as adolescents or young adults don’t know what’s right or wrong and they don’t even know how to implement things in life, it’s just that they would get a path known when a counsellor reads his/ her mind and understands him/her by knowing facts about his choices, likes, dislikes, preferences and experiences as journey belongs to the man himself with destiny being intact with it.
A recent survey showed that 93% of Indian students are aware of just 7 career options. In comparison, India offers over 250 career options in various domains and the condition in our very own Kashmir valley is bad to let’s say, here every year about 70%(approx.)of the students choose PCM or PCMB Or PCB as their subjects of Higher Studies without considering the fact whether they have interest in the subject or not but as their parents wish them to be called Science students or they want them to be Doctors Or Engineers, their interests and choices take a back seat which is entirely wrongdoing. Happiness matters in the work that one does with satisfaction being a major benchmark for peace and prosperity and surely it is!
This is where career counselling proves to be extremely helpful. A professionally trained career counsellor assists students by imparting knowledge about different career options available and suggesting an ideal career option as per their interests E.g., A Cricketer needs a coach to guide him, and A Student needs a teacher to teach him. Similarly, a person who is unable or confused to decide about his/her career needs a career counsellor as they
use logical methods which can help students build careers to succeed in achieving their dream goal as Tracy Kauffman says, “Finding your passion is the key to your success”.
The author can be mailed at afreenmanzoor34@gmail.com
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