A Call for Career Counselling

Some people grow up innately knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives while others require a lot more time to discover their options and explore the opportunities before they decide. For the latter group of people, it tends to become exceedingly difficult to choose an area of study in high school that they will later pursue as a career in the future.

Many fear that they might be deciding too soon without having sufficient experience while others find themselves trapped under the weight of peer pressure. There is a tendency to associate respect and dignity so vigorously with certain occupations that the other options of the spectrum seem to fall short of prominence. This often results in a lack of confidence within students interested in the more unconventional paths. Additionally, it is seen that plenty of them are also not completely aware of all the possibilities or the options best suited to them due to the lack of understanding of what each profession requires and whether or not they have what it takes.

These issues are all intensified by the lack of academic guidance in schools and can further propagate into a more precarious situation for the students in the long run due to the absence of appropriate counselling at the most relevant time.

It is seen that even some of the most reputed schools in Dhaka do not have career counsellors. In the handful of schools where they do provide this facility, more often than not, the counsellors are not specifically trained for the particular job. This results in students receiving unsatisfactory services which might even end up causing more harm than benefit.

I spoke to some students to gather their opinions and to understand their perspectives better.

"The fact that even the most elite schools in our country don't seem to offer proper career counselling to students, let alone how they continue to disregard the fact that careers are not simply units but a spectrum of options, speaks volumes. For students to truly comprehend their potentials and find the most befitting option would require exploration first or at least being aware of one's options. Bangladesh's education system continues to push students towards only goals of sets of career options which they deem to be respectable, cornering the future generation" said Sharita Fairooz, a grade 12 student at a reputed English medium school in Dhaka.

This certain angle to the matter of concern raises a crucial point which claims that academic guidance is not only required to find the most befitting option for every individual but also to make them aware of all the other possibilities and to give them the liberty to explore.

"I remember being a ninth grader and feeling like my whole world was turning upside down when I was told to choose between Science and Commerce subjects that would shape the entire rest of my life. How was a 15-year-old with no real world experience even expected to know what she wanted to do for the rest of her life all by herself? All throughout ninth grade, I went through so many breakdowns second guessing my choices all the time," said Anila Paromita, who is currently completing her undergraduate from a prestigious university in the USA.

She continued eagerly, "In short, with all the stress of the overwhelming present and lack of objectivity, I wish I had someone experienced in this field to guide me through a solid educational plan fit for my potential. If I had been fortunate enough to receive the guidance then maybe, I wouldn't have suffered from the indecision or have to go through all the uncertainty and difficulties associated with changing majors. I wish I had a guide to help me see the big picture, so I wouldn't look back on those days of my life as the most helpless phase."

In essence, as someone who has suffered greatly due to the lack of proper guidance, she believes that her experience could have been a lot more favourable had she been lucky enough to receive a helping hand.

Although the primary goal of career counselling is to help students select a field best suited to them according to their specific attributes, it not only just lays out all the possibilities but also provides expert resources that make people aware of their interests, strengths and weaknesses. It allows students to make well-informed decisions about their education and career, thus helping them to reduce the overall career-related frustration of what can otherwise become an exhausting process.

Characteristically, most Bangladeshi parents tend to have the majority of control over their children's education, if not all. This includes making decisions such as what activities they partake in, what subjects they choose and which job field they enter, regardless of their children's own ambitions. This later results in a lack of job satisfaction or a general gratification from all things in life. For such cases, academic guidance is exceptionally important for students to be able to navigate through the process and make healthy decisions for their own ultimate benefit. The professional help can give them a clearer understanding, a better chance to embark on a journey they would actually enjoy and instil more confidence in them to choose what they truly wish to do.

Contrary to popular belief, academic guidance is not meant solely for people who are unsure of their goals but also very helpful for those who already have a fixed objective. The counselling can make them aware of their shortcomings and help them understand what they must do to acquire the necessary skills that are expected from them. It can help students change unwanted habits and behaviour patterns such as unproductivity, procrastination and not keeping themselves updated with the changes and advancements of their chosen field of study or career.

There are plenty of students who know exactly what they want to do with their life but lack enough confidence. Career counselling can help them connect better to their choices and build self-belief thus redirecting their focus to the right places again.

Besides, the counsellors can also prepare students in advance, by helping them create their curriculum vitae, and training them for university or job interviews. Although it's importance is not recognised nearly enough, having had some prior practice and receiving guidance directly from professionals in this area of expertise can give candidates a lot more clarity and a head start for the unpredictable journey ahead.

"As I was preparing for my very first internship, the career coaches at the University of Toronto were phenomenal in their guidance to help me secure a position. I remember participating in a mock interview, being quizzed about the Ontario Environmental regulations and finally the mental and emotional support from my career coaches. I was able to receive employment as a junior environmental professional at the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change," said Mehnaz Farhad, an educator in a well-reputed institution in Toronto, Canada.

She added, "After graduation, as I worked as an educator at the Centennial College, I collaborated with the learning strategists there to hold the most interactive career coaching workshops. My colleague and I helped members of the youth at risk with interview performance, resume preparation and salary negotiation. Career coaching helped them find their way into the world."

Therefore, the education system must recognise the significance of academic guidance in schools and question why students are being deprived of such a life-shaping opportunity. Under the current circumstances, there are already plenty of factors to consider before making the smallest decisions.

The decision-making process becomes even more complex for 15 to 19-year-olds trying to make choices that will mould the rest of their lives. The appropriate assistance at the proper time can nudge them in the right direction and set the track to the course of the rest of their lives.

Anusha often has a lot on her plate. Send her memes and motivation at anusha.mourshed11@gmail.com