Paulina Usiku
A pivotal moment in the lives of numerous young learners comes when the calendar pages turn. It’s that time of the year when colleges and university applications take centre stage, along with the important choices that will determine how these bright young brains will spend the rest of their lives. Parents being the guardians of their children’s destinies, stand at the edge of this crossroads of ambitions and aspirations. The question of whether parents should insist on a set line of study that they view as the pinnacle of achievement looms big or they should let their kids choose their own route, becoming the compass that points them in the direction of their true passions and potential. Like determining whether to cut a young bird’s wings or allow it to soar towards its own preferred horizon, this decision has deep consequences.
The assumption that parents always know best for their kids’ careers is a result of a combination of love, concern, and social pressures. Culture-specific beliefs, failure-related anxiety, societal expectations, and other factors are important contributors to this phenomena.
But it’s important for parents to understand that times have changed and that there are now alternative avenues to success to the old-fashioned linear career paths.
Threatening or forcing kids to choose a particular job path can have negative consequences, such as mental health problems that can lead to stress, despair, and anxiety. If the child is studying something that is not their passion, this might also result in poor academic achievement. It could have a significant impact on the youngster’s decision to continue studying.
When this youngster graduates from college and secures employment, it results in low job satisfaction. For instance, if this person becomes a nurse, they begin treating patients rudely, or if they become a teacher, they begin despising students, beating them up, and constantly yelling at them because that is not where their heart is. My interest of social sciences led me to take subjects like history for my Advanced Subsidiary Level at the prominent secondary school Jan Möhr in Windhoek in 2022. I have always been clear about my academic goals and where I want to continue my education.I applied at UNAM for Political Science as my first choice and Law as my second choice when
the application forms were out, but my heart was really set on Political Science because I have always been interested in political issues and debate since I was a small child. After three weeks, I finally received a letter of permission, and I was overjoyed. When our results were announced at the beginning of this year, I was ecstatic and eager to go sign up for my course. However, a week later, my family began to think about politics and wanted me to pursue a career in law. I had absolutely no interest in law. Simply because it had a tenuous connection to political science, I chose it. That week, I was completely perplexed because I was being forced to study a course that I had no interest in. Before school started, I had to switch courses four times in two weeks. I was in the Media Division of the Business Division. The woman who helped me change my degree constantly enquiring as to why I was so confused and suggested that I take a gap year. Had to apply to Nust for Logistics because they believed that the market is wide for that course.
However, two days before the deadline, for different reasons, I sat down and gave it some consideration. I then called a few of my close friends and my high school teachers to seek for advice because they are familiar with my personality.
I prayed about it and made the decision to do what my heart desired because I was aware of my future plans and objectives. I’m excited about what I’m learning right now. Although it wasn’t simple, my family now accepts and supports my decision. I think that if I did as they asked, I would be dissatisfied and ineffective—not because I want to be unsuccessful, but rather because my heart is not in it.
Yes, it is crucial to seek parental guidance, but their influence should be moderated when it comes to making decisions about your future. Even if some people might think that studying politics will train you to become corrupt, if becoming a political scientist is what your heart desires, go ahead and pursue that passion. You can never please everyone with your decisions since only you truly know who you are. For example, only you can decide that you want to study a particular subject because you want to change society and become a role model for others.
Parents frequently threaten to withhold tuition payments from their children if they do not submit an application for a certain course. And now, this young person is considering taking a certain course for four years to earn the degree they desire before returning to college to pursue their academic goals. Please don’t put pressure on your children, parents. In a similar manner, you have wasted your child’s years of education because you want your family to pursue a particular vocation. The Paulina family is recognised as the family that only consists of teachers, whereas the Ndapandula family is known as the family of doctors and nurses. We’ve relocated from the past and concentrating on how to have a better future. Stop pressuring your children to enrol in particular courses just because you think the market is large and that type of course would ensure you a job.
As a result, they might not trust you right now or believe anything you say, but bear in mind that eventually things will start to make sense to them and fit into place. Taking chances is a big part of life.
*Paulina Usiku is a first year BA in Political Science student, youth advocate and the vice chairperson for the UNAM BIG Society.Usikupaulina@gmail.com