Have you ever wondered how career talk sessions in schools influence students’ decisions? Are they truly empowering young minds or narrowing their aspirations to just a handful of careers?
I recently visited a school in Northern INDIA to conduct a systematic and standardized career guidance workshop. What I witnessed left me both hopeful and concerned. As I started the session, I asked the students about their career aspirations. Many students mentioned careers like fashion designing, law, or teaching. Curious, I probed deeper: “Why these fields?”
Their responses revealed a glaring issue. The students talked about some sessions conducted what they exclaimed as “career counselling,” which, in reality, was a series of career talks. Students shared, Professionals from specific fields were invited to share insights about their professions. The students, eager to find direction, clung to these options. One student summed up the dilemma perfectly:
“Kabhi koi aata h aur fashion designing ke baare mein batata h to lagta h humein yeh karna chahiye. Phir koi aur law ke baare mein baat karta h to lagta h ki isme bhi jaa sakte hain. Isse hum log aur bhi confuse ho jaate hain.”
While the intentions of career talks are good but limited and incomplete information does confuse the young impressionable minds.
To address their confusion, I introduced a systematic, scientific process. Using validated assessments, we explored careers aligned with each student’s unique personality, interests, abilities, and potential. The transformation was immediate.
By the end of the session, one student said, “Ab humein clarity mil gayi hai. Ab hum confidently kisi ko bhi bata sakte hain ki yeh career hamare liye kyu suitable hai.”
Some students who had completed their 12th grade stayed back to ask questions. They shared the same confusion as their younger peers, having been influenced by similar career talks. I had a detailed conversation with them and provided a list of over 300+ career options, tailored to different levels of competency—low, medium and high. Their relief and gratitude underscored how crucial proper guidance is.
This experience highlighted an important concern: labelling career talks as career counselling can unintentionally mislead adolescents, increasing the risk of them making uninformed decisions.
True career counselling is more than just showcasing professions; it’s a structured process that helps students discover their potential and align their aspirations with their abilities.
As I reflect on this experience and think: What if all students received the right guidance at the right time? How many young lives could we positively transform?
At ETASHA Society, we’re committed to replacing confusion with clarity, myths with facts, and hesitation with confidence. Our approach ensures that students are equipped to make informed, confident decisions about their future, free from societal pressures and misinformation.
Adolescents need structured, standardized guidance that empowers them to dream big and plan systematically.
Let’s ask ourselves: Are we truly guiding our students, or are we unknowingly holding them back?
This blog has been written by: Sana Khatun, Development Counselor at ETASHA Society