Exams play an important role in our education. Without a proper study plan ,qualifying an exam can be challenging. Sometimes it can cause disappointment too. UPSC Civil Services, IIT-JEE, GATE, NDA, NEET UG etc are some of the hardest and most competitive exams in India. In India students have to decide their stream after the 10th Standard. Science , Maths , Commerce , Arts etc are the streams. Due to the parental pressure many top scorers are taking Science and Maths as their stream without even looking at their aptitude. The reason is simple. Both the parents and children are still not aware about the career options. The only career choice of Indian parents in this 21st century is either to be a doctor or an engineer. Society expects a hard working or talented student to become a doctor or engineer. It seems to be a matter of social status. Hence lakhs of students pay coaching institutes hefty fees to crack NEET , JEE to become a doctor or an engineer. In our society those who cracked NEET, JEE are considered smart and bright. Others who joined some other courses are considered as useless. Or society makes them feel so.
However, we need to understand that our country has produced a number of engineers and doctors. Most of them are still unemployed. We need more talented and skilled people in other fields too. We have already entered a world where knowledge is free, yet facing the lack of job skill. Some of the world’s most successful companies like Apple and Google do not require a college degree for some of their top jobs. Nowadays companies need people with creative problem solving skills, analytical skills, interdisciplinary knowledge, a collaborative mindset and ability to deal with uncertainty and complexity. This doesn’t mean that we don’t need degrees. Indeed we need it. But no need to put much pressure on it. We need more job skills since jobs are going to be more demanding. Today’s students want to explore disciplines of their interest. Hence it is the responsibility of parents not to put your desires and dreams upon your children. Stop calling them failures, when they don’t qualify an exam. Don’t compare your children with others. Every child is unique. They have their own talent and skills. So parents duty is to find, support and nurture it. Also guide them properly . Let them choose their future.
This year 16 lakhs students are waiting for the NEET UG results. The fact is that only a small percentage will crack the exam. Some students prepared well for the exam, some others not. Those who genuinely put in hard work and can’t achieve the desired results will definitely hurt if they won’t get admission in a reputed institute . But dear students this is the time for a fact check too. Be honest to yourself and analyse your strengths & weaknesses. Maybe you have some other skills. Find it and match with other career options. This will help to make an appropriate decision. If you can’t do it alone, seek the advice of your teachers or career counsellors. Based on your capabilities, you are able to find other options. Don’t be influenced by parental and societal pressure. If you have the grit and determination to become a doctor, find out the faults in your previous preparation , improve the gaps and repeat the exam. Otherwise repeating the exam will be a mental trauma for yourself.
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