What should I do when I grow up?
A question that begins to take shape within a child’s mind as they mature. Psychological research indicates that children begin formulating notions about future aspirations and their desired future endeavours as early as the age of 7.
Initial career ideas might spark in a child’s mind even before stepping into the school by looking at parents. Gradually they become more curious about the world around them and learn to seek information from parents, teachers, friends, social media etc. By the time they are in middle school, ideas of different career choices take shape in their mind and they start to evaluate the suitable options for them. As they hit the adolescent age, their identity as an individual becomes more prominent. They become more decisive about their interests, strengths and weaknesses, talents, values etc. They become more vocal about I am like this and I am not like that, I want to do this and I don’t want to do that.
Parents’ influence, peer pressure, recommendations from career counsellors and social media also play an essential role in finding an answer to this question.
The preferred choices crystallise more clearly by the time the child is about to complete high school and ready to execute the plan.
Finally, academic performance, competition opportunities available and financial support becomes the deciding factor before the child narrows down to a single choice.
Can there be a perfect answer to this question? What measures the correctness of the answer?
Life goes on!
Too many career options, not sure about own interest, financial reasons, parental influence, peer pressure, difficulty to visualise the future, career counselling – there are many factors that influence the decision.
When the time comes, the child needs to make a career choice and move on.
The child gets busy with academics, friends and many other possible things. Soon the child starts working. The priority changes to adjusting to the work environment, performing at the workplace and enjoying the newfound financial independence. Soon buying a car, a house, and travelling abroad becomes a priority. Marriage happens and soon the child becomes the parent of a child.
Then the story of the Parent begins….