Career Choice
Posted by anas on Oct 21, 2009 in Uncategorized | 12 commentsDuring my short visit to Pakistan I met a few of my cousins and some younger kids in my parents’ friends and family circle who have either recently started with their universities or are planning to do so soon. I realized that some people actually force their children to talk to me or get me talking to them thinking that I may share some words of wisdom or guide a child towards success.
Consider an example. I met my dad’s friend who gladly pronounced that his son has taken up electronics engineering and towards the closing stages of his speech he asked me to guide the child. Another example of a cousin who has also taken up same degree, and unlucky for him he ran in to me that very day asking for some advice.
As much as I am honoured to have people looking up to me, I don’t really like it and I may even hate it. I avoid such people. One of the reasons is that I don’t give out career advice to anyone because there is no such thing as a sure shot formula to a nice career. Secondly, circumstances differ for each individual.
My answer to that passionate-speech-man was simple. I told him that your son will learn it himself. But when the kid approached me, I decided to have a go at him. I took him to a table and sat down with him. I’m sure he thought something good was coming but only if he knew I am not what he thought.
So, I asked him, “why did you chose this career (elec. engr)”? He simple answered that he likes it. Next, I probed “how was your maths at college?” and he answered it was good but his face defied his words (I have read two books on body language so I can tell the difference on most occasions). I probed him with several other questions to which his answers were that he doesn’t really like programming and eventually he told me that his dad wanted him to take up this career. Hah! There I knew it all along!
The cousin came in next and I grilled him only to inform him later that what he thought this field is about is not really what it is. If you like those cool looking PCBs and pretty LEDs on them that’s not really what its all about.
The point of this post is that you can’t really look at a person and try to follow in his footsteps. To those who think I’m someone to look up to are wrong. Personally, I believe I have many shortcomings as an engineer and I should really have worked much harder, but then that’s me. And you are not me!
The other point is that parents should let the children decide the career and not really force them to take what they think is a blossoming career. If you aren’t good in those subjects, getting a degree won’t give you that wonderful job you imagined. I wonder why people don’t understand that. My parents always wanted me to be a doctor, but they never forced it upon me. The choice was left to me and they supported it all along. Despite the fact that a part of me feels I should’ve taken medicine owing to the sheer number of girls there, I’m extremely satisfied with my decision. I knew what I was going in to and I did my research before choosing the path.
Finally, I believe people should seek advice, nothing wrong with it but eventually go with what they think. Its their OWN career we’re talking about here.
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A rant from a long time ago!
http://razzita.blogspot.com/2007/09/choosing-career-path.html
I’ve become sick of the desi mentality for a lot of reasons, and this is one of them. Our society sucks so bad, it’s not even funny
exactly!
Agreed with everything. I do have a question though…
What is worse: studying a subject because one’s parents wanted it, or studying a subject because of the “sheer number of girls” studying it?
Interesting, I gave this a thought. If the choice is between parents’ subjects (enforcement) and the number of girls (motivation in this case) then you know the answer
“Despite the fact that a part of me feels I should’ve taken medicine owing to the sheer number of girls there, I’m extremely satisfied with my decision.”
I get the point. Satisfied at NUST haan?
lol..yes satisfied…..God works in mysterious ways..you see AKU was just few minutes away
lolz @ Amaar
@All above: That part about girls wasn’t meant to be taken seriously, what’s wrong with you people?
Dude, girls are the only motivation left in this world!
“I met a dad’s friend”….
DUDE!! How many dads DO you have?
See, grammar saves face!
Too true! good advice