Ambitions: Parents Vs Children

Every year with the declaration of HSSLC and HSLC examination results, most parents spend sleepless nights worrying about choosing the right course or the most suitable schools for their children. With the ever growing competition and availability of limited seats in the most sought schools, admitting children in the course and school of their choice has become a tough job for majority of the parents. In this connection, I wish to share an incident from my life which may be of help to few of the readers.   

One day one of my colleagues asked my 11 year old son what his aim in life is. He just stared back at her without answering. So she asked again, “What do you want to become in life?”  He answered politely, “I have not yet decided.”  She smiled and advised him that he should decide it. When we came out he told me, “Daddy sometimes I think that I want to become a teacher like you. When I see an aeroplane, I feel that I should become an aeronautical engineer. When I study about the Universe, I feel that I should become a space scientist. So how can I decide about my career now?”

I told him, “You need not take any such decision right now. Enjoy your school life and study well. But whatever you study, understand the concepts well and never go for memorising without understanding. By the time you reach class 9/10, you will identify your field of interest and basing on that you can start preparing for realising your ambition.”

By the time a child completes his/her high school, they would have identified their field of interest and that should be a major factor in deciding their course of study. But unfortunately, the interest and likes of children are rarely taken in to consideration in selecting their field of study. Many children are thus forced to run blind folded in the race of life without realising the purpose of running.

Most of us have developed a misconception that medical and engineering are the only fields of study that would ensure a bright future for our children. There is no denial that these professions are the first choice for many talented people. But we must not forget that every field of study offers good scope for those who excel in whatever they study.

 

It is true that parents have the responsibility of helping children in shaping their future but at the same time, it is not wise to impose our unattained ambitions on them against their wishes. They are going to live their own life, so they must decide about it. We should only guide them to explore the various options available to them.