Children need to understand their skills and what they are good at. When they will evaluate their skills and interest, automatically they will have more clarity. There is peer pressure, parental pressure, but now students are realising that there is scope in every subject. I feel that children need to contemplate and find out about their skills and interests as early as possible. Schools should expose children about what are the areas, skills required for different professions.

What a child wants to do is very important. Parents should also give time to their children and discuss with them. Parents should talk to the children and find out what they are good at. Avenues are open today. Children can work in music, arts, photography, or anything they want to do. It is about identifying the passion and parents should understand not to impose anything on the children. Parents should also be given counselling in schools. From 8th standard onwards, children need to be told about the professions and skill attributes of different professionals, etc. Children should be proud of what they are doing.

Shanti Krishnamurthy
Director, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust (CCMT) Education cell