In our times, students have more options in comparison to the earlier generation. ADC speaks to both youngsters and to seasoned professionals in an effort to find out why the older generation was so focused about careers, while the youth faces career dilemmas.
EARLIER life was a lot simpler in terms of the choices students had, they merely had to chose from three streams, some of the preferred careers were to be a lawyer, doctor and engineer etc. Presently, today’s generation is not only confused about what stream to pursue after Std X, but even two years later, find themselves pursuing subjects that don’t interest them. A lot of them also cannot decide between studying in India or abroad and if you think they attain clarity after pursuing their bachelors, then you are mistaken.
They often find themselves drawn towards more than one field, even after pursuing their graduation. To add to their woes, they have stereotypes such as “Arts requires one to be able to mug”, “A B.Com is very common and every second person is pursuing it,” while “intelligent students should only steer towards Science”, are some of the misconceptions that prevail even in the 21st century!
Shreya Chhabria (16), a FYJC Commerce student from HR College aspires to eventually work in an advertising firm and pursue Interior Designing simultaneously. “I do not know why, but I like both equally; I wish, I could make up my mind and focus on one option. Both Interior Designing and Advertising are poles apart and very hectic, I cannot study them simultaneously,” she says as she echoes the widespread confusion that is prevalent amongst today’s youth.
While specialised courses may help students focus on their ambitions and channel them accordingly, they only help to a certain extent. “I am equally interested in Advertising, Photography and Filmmaking. I want to pursue all three eventually, but do not know how to go about it. I do not know what kind of jobs to apply to and personally like to try out new stuff,” says Supraket Meshram, a TYBMM, Advertising student from Wilson College. His hesitancy could have stemmed from the fact that he wants to ensure that whatever he pursues presently, should open more doors for him in the future.
While today’s generation is overwhelmed with the endless career options that are available, the previous generation not only knew what they wanted to pursue and were not as puzzled. They also knew why they were inclined towards a particular field.
Dr Raju Khubchandani, a Consultant Pediatrician at Jaslok and Breach Candy Hospital and in charge of the Rheumatology clinic at Jaslok Hospital says, “In school we had a set of aptitude tests and my parents always told me to choose a profession where I could be independent and not reporting to a boss.
Keeping these facts in mind, I selected medicine. Apart from liking children, there were multiple reasons why I chose to be a pediatrician, it is a branch with relatively low investment in terms of time and money and those who scored the highest would opt for Pediatrics.”
There are others who realized their ambitions from life’s experiences like Rabindra Hazari, Advocate and Partner at Rabindra Hazari Associates. “I was expelled and suspended from college as a student activist. I stood up for democratic rights as the college refused admission to more than 150 students without any grounds and even abolished the student union. Between 1975-77 Indira Gandhi declared Emergency, but even after 1977, the College Administration continued repressive policies which my friends and I challenged. I fasted unto death for nine days and because they refused to readmit me into college, I took them to court and finished my BA with a Stay Order from the court,” he reveals.
While many loathe their bafflement and wish they could be more focused, there are those who see confusion as an inevitable part of growing up and something that every graduate faces. Sudhakar Solomonraj, HOD of the BMM and Political Science department from Wilson College feels, “One can never be certain of what they want to be at the age of 19, there is no guarantee that the certainty will last.” According to him, this confusion can also be attributed to the fact that, “People are confused because they are not sure if there are enough opportunities that can give them long term financial security, and are worried if there is enough scope for growth,” he adds. Due to which, they opt for subjects like Psychology and Economics which supposedly have the most scope in the Arts stream.
Parental pressure often also disguises itself as confusion and this has even been observed by Dr. Henal Shah, President of the Bombay Psychiatry Society, who narrates an extreme case about a girl she counseled. “She wanted to pursue Fashion Designing, while her parents wanted her to pursue Medicine, she killed herself after going into depression as her parents simply could not understand her ambitions. Although, there have also been cases where parents have gradually accepted their children’s aspirations.”
Shah advises students to seek help, understand and believe in themselves, “Speak to teachers, they may not be counselors, but they have some background and an idea. Today knowledge is available on the internet and in newspapers, do not take it for face value. People are often inhibited to ask for help and do not know from where to seek guidance.” says Shah.
“Speak to teachers, they may not be counselors, but they have some background and an idea. Today knowledge is available on the internet and in newspapers; do not take it at face value. People are often too inhibited to ask for help and do not know from where to seek guidance.”
- Dr. Henal Shah
“I am equally interested in Advertising, Photography and Filmmaking. I want to pursue all three eventually, but do not know how to go about it. I do not know what kind of jobs to apply for and personally like to try out new stuff,”
- Supraket Meshram