The Pressures of Choosing a Career

As children, we always knew what we wanted to pursue in the future and no matter who asked, we always had a sure shot answer. Whether it was a ballerina or an astronaut, our options seemed endless and our interests, ever-growing. However, at that age, we lacked a concrete understanding of the world or the vast array of fields available. Our ideas were mostly shaped by superficial things like enjoying a certain subject, observing our role models or seeing a certain profession in our favourite TV shows.

But as we grew up, our dreams and ambitions became more practical. Our interests narrowed down, and our thoughts became slightly clearer. We let go of those initial idealistic fantasies and focused on the more realistic possibilities. And as we entered the junior and senior secondary programme, the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” suddenly carried real weight.

Along with that question, came the never-ending pressures, social expectations and the looming reminder of that ticking clock that time was running out.

The ticking clock reminds you that time is running out

This period of time supposedly meant for self-discovery, suddenly became the start of a lifelong race, where everyone was competing to cross the finish line.

The truth is, while some of us achieved clarity at an early age, a lot of us are yet to reach that stage. And unintentionally, those students tend to set a standard, which the rest of us can only aim to achieve. Trying to reach that point only increases our self-doubt, making us question our own potential and whether we have what it takes to cross that finish line.

The biggest pressure most children face is conforming to family expectations. In most homes, particularly in those cultures where education is directly linked to identity and security, career choices are a family business. Well-meaning parents may insist on "safe" or "respectable" jobs such as medicine, law, or engineering. Although they wish to provide us with security, it may end up conflicting with our own strengths, interests or beliefs. Sometimes, it's not even said outright, but as an unspoken assumption based on tradition, values, or economic realities. 

Due to this, young people often find themselves trying to comply with the wishes of their parents in order to pursue a career that is considered as more acceptable and not become a disappointment. A lot of students also deliberately try to steer away from unconventional careers, no matter how much it interests them, just to avoid being embarrassed and judged by society.

Societal pressures also influence our individual choices and behaviour as we navigate through our teenage years. In a lot of families, youngsters are also compared to their siblings or cousins. Although parents intend to try and inspire their children to aim higher and be like their family members, it can also have a negative impact on a child’s self-esteem by adding extra and unnecessary pressure regarding their career choices.

The biggest pressure most children face is conforming to family expectations.

The influence of social media also undeniably adds pressure on students. Sometimes, it feels like your Instagram feed is synced to your brain and can read all your thoughts. Every time you are feeling stressed about your studies or about college, and you start scrolling on your phone for a break, suddenly all you get are reels of overachievers. From “A day in the life of a teenage entrepreneur” to “Here’s how I got into Harvard,” the list is endless. All this does is make us question what we are doing with our lives and wonder about what it is that differentiates us from the people we see on our phones.

To add to this, these days, being a straight A student and having good grades isn’t enough to get into a renowned college. You also need a few extracurriculars, external internships, volunteering experience etc. All of this helps in building your portfolio and convincing colleges of your skills and personality. But for students who are still uncertain about their futures, this can often feel like they are chasing an empty dream. Balancing all these tasks can be challenging and frustrating for students, especially when paired with their academic workload and time constraints. This can cause further confusion and immense pressure as students frantically try to juggle between all of their tasks, while trying to make the most out of them.

I am grateful to study at DLRC, a centre that helps me achieve the best of both worlds. Many of the things that students are required to do outside of school hours is built into our curriculum. From on-campus internships, career counseling, and the Social Impact Project where we engage with social causes, to the brilliant facilitators who help foster our curiosity, DLRC has helped me build my portfolio as well as explore future career paths. I can say with full certainty that being here has helped me take a huge step forward towards figuring out what I want to pursue while taking away some of that unnecessary pressure.

By Abha Nivasarkar, Grade 11