KARACHI:
Recently, I reconnected with a schoolmate of mine who harbours an unwavering passion for the arts. Nevertheless, the conflict within him was palpable, as his eyes revealed a tug-of-war between his artistic fervour and the gravitational pull toward more conventional paths. During our conversation, he expressed, “It feels like everyone around me is set on pursuing medicine or engineering; it’s as if the creative journey is becoming increasingly uncommon.” His internal struggle resonated with the larger narrative of a generation caught between personal passion and societal expectations.
As students approach the culmination of their intermediate education, a formidable decision looms before them, one that will significantly influence their future: Medical or Engineering? These two options have long stood as the predominant goals for students post-intermediate. The focus on these fields has confined graduates within traditional academic boundaries. This prevailing trend has resulted in a plethora of doctors and engineers in our society, inadvertently neglecting the imperative for diversity in career paths.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is opening up diverse career paths in AI-related fields and can free students from the confines of traditional boundaries. Beyond the realms of medicine and engineering, a plethora of other career options await, spanning business, computer science, arts, law, environmental science and more. Educational authorities must actively support and facilitate these varied fields, fostering students’ interests and encouraging exploration beyond the conventional paths.
Sajjad Ali Mugheri
Larkana
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2024.
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