"Figure out what you like doing best and find someone who will pay you for it. That defines career". Man is defined by the social conditions that rules his actions. A child, unfazed by the complexities of life and unaware of the ambiguous life, says,"I want to be a doctor", "I want to be a police officer". These statements, though charmed by innocence, make the parents proud. It seems a different age, when we talk about people's career choices being dictated by the clan they belonged to. The career was never an option for them. It was just an obligation that needed to be fulfilled. Arjuna was meant to be a warrior king, Maharishi Ved Vyas was destined to be a hermit even before he was born. But mythology rarely speaks of the difficulties Karna, the unsung hero had to face. He was destined to be a warrior(He was Kshatriya by birth), reared by a fisherman and thence expected by the society to be a fisherman, yet he aspired to be one the 'Regals'. This brings to light two facts: firstly, the social stratification always dictated the profession of a person; secondly, he who broke the societal norms, was outcast by the society.
An era has passed, man,still a social being, is governed by the social conditions. Man has not changed, its the society that he lives in, has changed its perspective. Profession is no longer a right by birth. One has the freedom to choose what he wants to take up as career option; caste, sex, religion not withstanding. Today a girl can enter into male bastion, it may raise some eyebrows, yet welcome by our society. A Dalit can become an administrator, rightfully and justify his position without being answerable to any system. Despite the constraint-free society, a new issue has been staring at the youths of our society today. The constant pressure of performing and living up to the expectation of the society, has been haunting the individuals constantly.
Again its the society which has once again come to the fore in determining career of a person. Individuals, especially youth, are more guided by the career choices of their friends or acquaintances rather than their intuitive desire. It is this dilemma which creates conflict between heart and mind.The pressure to perform, the pressure to fulfill the ambitions of parents, the ever-lasting desire to reach the apex, and above all to emulate or move a step ahead of what one's friend or acquaintance has achieved. But in all these, the very basic thing loses its identity-the actual desire of an individual.
On a personal front I have been very lucky, since my parents never dictated my ambitions nor did they set 'spoken' goals for me. Yet I must admit, I have been playing safe bet so far. Be it choosing science as a career stream after my 10th or opting to be a Computer Science Engineer, I have always given top priority to safeguard my career. Playing cricket was my passion, but gradually, during my school days, I realized its something I would love to take up as a career option. Yet the conservative mindset, and the fear of 'landing nowhere', overpowered my aspiration and I gave up my desire-turned-fantasy, for higher studies. Even after my high school, I had the option for going after history, my favourite subject. Yet again, it was science that I took up as career stream. And the suit followed when I had to choose my major in graduation. Now a point has come when I am at crossroads again. After one and half year of smooth-sail as a Research Engineer and nurturing several more aspirations in me, the time has come yet again to choose. Every year I see results of CAT percentiles being flashed in social networking sites and has become a talk of town in every household. At the same time I come across magazines publicizing the life and take of successful UPSC candidates. Being an investment banker gives you bucks that make your life royal and indicates you have tamed the mother of all qualifications; becoming an administrator gives a you a special place in society- an elite individual.
This is not the start of being at cross-roads nor will it be the last one. Life is a never ending journey, and the road is never straight. One of my friends, a graduate from a reputed college went 'astray' and decided to be an entrepreneur, a decision not going well with his kiths and kins. Yet he stuck to his decision and today he might not be a software engineer or working for a NASDAQ listed company, but atleast he has made a mark in a field he wanted to get into. Parents play a vital role in shaping the career of youths. Parents may say 'go for it because our neighbor's son does it', your mum might say,'I had always seen you as a doctor'. Yet its you, who has to justify the task you take up.
'If you cannot be a highway then just be a trail,
If you cannot be a sun, then be a star,
Its not by the size you win or you fail,
Be the best of whatever you are.'
