When it comes to choosing a stable career, many students and parents alike, still seem to struggle.This becomes more prevalent after the board exams of classes X and XII. You will notice a rush of admission to science streams after class X board exams. Simultaneously, the majority of students who cleared their XII standard exam will opt for medical or engineering entrances. This has been happening year after year, but is it the right way?
Is scoring a certain percentage and studying in a traditional course the only way for a secured professional life? Apparently not!
So, what should be the standpoint of parents and students regarding the career options in India?
Career Choices Purely Based on Academics Is Outdated
While having a career usually denotes preferences towards certain activities and work culture, the modern ways are changing this thought process. According to the RIASEC model by John Holland, a person’s interests can be divided into six categories:
- Realistic
- Investigative
- Artistic
- Social
- Enterprising
- Conventional
As you can see, the conventional part comes at the end of it. This is not an arbitrary thought. Pushing students solely based on academic records can have long-term negative effects. Even if they do manage to secure a good profession, they cannot sustain themselves without a passion for the field.
Less Stress on Academics and More on Other Skills Is Necessary for Development
The schools and colleges are slowly learning that putting too much stress on academics alone does more harm than good. When students are under too much stress, they have no time or energy left to learn new and necessary skills.
This may include skills like soft communication, teamwork, and personality development that are necessary to succeed in professional life. Sure, academics can help your child learn and understand the basics of life. But it is not the only thing your kid needs to learn.
Even if you admit your child to the best CBSE school in Kolkata, without these skills, he/she will not succeed in the long run.
Moreover, simply stressing over academics alone, can create mental blockage in the child’s mind that will stop him/her from socializing in the future. Values and problem-solving skills in real life are developed outside of the classroom.
Choosing a Career Based on Academics Alone
The pressure of choosing a career can be immense on a teenager. That is why parents need to take responsibility. That doesn’t mean they should choose a career they deem fit for their child either.
Choosing a career, simply based on academics, can have major drawbacks. Professionals require in-depth knowledge, both in theory and practice, agreed. But the academic results alone cannot determine a student’s brilliance correctly.
Some may argue that if a student has a passion for a subject, he/she is likely to excel in it. But certain professions require aptitude, which academics alone cannot determine. Secondly, not all subjects are taught in the curriculum of even the top CBSE schools. Thirdly, The current education system primarily tests memory over aptitude of the student.
For instance, a career in fashion and lifestyle, or ethical hacking and coding are highly popular these days. Not only do these offbeat careers offer a good remuneration but also respect in society.
But until students are given the direction towards independent thinking, they cannot carve out a niche for themselves in these streams.
Choosing a Career Based on Passion Alone
With everything that has been mentioned earlier, it cannot be said that it’s a good idea to choose a career based on passion alone either. To excel in any field, you need to gather enough knowledge and expertise. A doctor cannot be considered eligible to perform surgery until he has proved his mettle during his degree. This holds true for any profession, whether you are a painter, engineer, dentist, or artist, formal education still holds value.
Final Verdict
There is no single answer for this, and any good school will tell you the same. The key to building a fruitful prospect is to take a holistic approach to education. That means paying attention to the academics, as well as, nurturing the passion of the students to find their aptitude.
This way your child can figure out his/her calling and choose a field where they enjoy working. It will push them to further improve themselves and excel in future endeavours.
