As we draw nearer towards our practical life, our parents deliberate about our plans and profession. They are very concerned about our careers and worried about our future, and, due to this, they force us to think about becoming a professional of their choice.

As soon as a child joins school, parents start to put it into the mind of their child that he or she has to become a doctor or an engineer in the future.

I agree that these professions have great value and scope, but many students have interest in other fields, however, they are forced by their family to pursue the profession which their family likes.

Many students want to pursue a profession different from what their family wants for them, but they have to follow what is being dictated to them. This affects them in different ways, and most of these effects are adverse.

Under their family’s influence, students stop living the life they want to. It is as if parents throw their children into a race and some students become so concerned about this race that they are even ready to sacrifice their lives to win.

When students are not allowed to choose the field of their choice, they start to live a life full of confusion because they have the passion for something else, but are forced to do something which is not of their interest. The parents also encourage their children by focusing on the financial benefits they would get in particular professions. The results of saying such a thing are quite negative, as students then start to think that life’s aim is to make money rather than to serve others and their country.

Some students can cope with the demands and pressure from parents and continue to do well, but some students start to live a depressed and confused life. They don’t understand what they are doing and what they want to do. They don’t get good grades due to their lack of interest in what they are studying. And when they do enter into the profession chosen by their parents, they pursue it half-heartedly and may not fare very well in it.

What students should do: Students should try to explain to their elders that how difficult it is for them to study the field in which they are not interested in. They should tell their parents about their passion and together explore the possible ways of pursuing it.

The role parents must play: Our parents are our well-wishers. No doubt about it, but parents must develop a proper understanding of their children – their aspirations and dreams, their fears and thoughts. This will make children closer to parents and parents will know more about what they want in life.

So, students must have the right to choose the field which they like because forcing them towards what they don’t want to do will not lead to success.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 20th, 2021