Here is an Indian story; you may find similarities between characters and the people around you or yourself. It is not a deliberate attempt to portrait any one. A girl (it can be a boy, since we are stressing importance to women’s reservation, we can go with a girl) who thinks about the options of her studies at the final stage of her graduation. She takes a course because she was asked to take that by her parents or somebody her family thinks an expert.

She took Physics and Chemistry along with Biology because never found a friendly attitude of Mathematics. Her mindset was like commerce and arts are for those who were unable to score high in the tenth level andfor those who were not able to get an admission in the science stream. When she took PCB nobody told her about the further options in the career and she doesn’t felt it is important.

Her decision to choose a course was not less than that of a blindfolding game. She took one in a comfortable college and at the end of the course she has to face a big question, what is next? Then she gets confused why she took this course and what was her motive??

The story ends here. It is happening to many of us and they end up with a job or a course which may not be the best option for them. Every time why this happens? Even though the world opens so many doors, most of the people are not taking the one which is not for them or doesn’t bother at the initial stage to choose the right path.

Providing a Base for Choices

Before finalizing on any decision the students or the aspirants should have a clear-cut knowledge of the course or the institute where she/he wishes to do a particular course. It shouldn’t be in a teaser format; like that we are experiencing though the advertisements, only projecting the investor’s interest or only the attractive side of the affairs. The European countries are allowing the senior school students to visit different universities so that students have an idea about those institutions. This can help them to make a decision regarding the place of pursuing a course. Here in India this practice is not generally allowed.

This should need a change and the student from the school level should also get an exposure to college life like the mock classes, interaction with the students of the particular college and through the discussion they should also know about the future opportunities of each programs and thus to set a career object and goal. The discussions will also let the students to know about the course content and can give a thought on the needed skills and potential; for pursuing a particular course/subject. This can be considered as a win-win situation for both students and institute, where the students can take a decision with his/her experiments and the universities can get the best fit for them.

Introducing New Electives

Our academics include only the subject they have to learn in particular streams. We can have the options of elective and optional. But those are also within the particular domain. For example, if a student of English graduate wanted to do a course in sales, there is no such options are available for them in college. Obviously there are private institute providing these course in a short term period, one can take an admission there and pursue them. But the universities should take such initiatives and introduce electives which provide interesting career paths for the aspirants. There are institutes which offer certain courses like this but they take this lightly.

Identify your Cheese

There is a common belief that being a doctor or Engineer is good for our children. A lawyer or a MBA graduates are accepted in the society. These are respectable jobs receiving high status and attract every eye. These made the whole mindset of the nation and the people here. We don’t respect any C class jobs andnobody wants to have a career in those fields.

These jobs also have advantage and disadvantages. If you are selecting a course due to some common perception and even if you are paid higher than anybody, you need not be satisfied. You need to enjoy the area you are working. Like the old saying, every person is blessed in some specific areas and you should identify your cheese, which is crucial.

Opportunities are only effective if you are taking the right one. For taking the right one you should know about each area and the available options for you. You are not playing a game with your life; if you are it is not right. Here we need a common effort form the authorities and also from the people. We have to make a little change in the existing practice and some in the mind set.

We need to develop a balanced economy which is able to cater to most of the national needs. We can start from the education sector, since it is the important investment for growth and development. We have to focus on each student and help them to have a freedom in selecting a career and thus the life. After all we all need to give an innovative ending for our Indian Story…