Let them choose their careers

Letter October 21, 2018
Parents should children decide their own careers

RAWALPINDI: When I was growing up, I wanted to become everything! As a child with dozens of her own dreams and ambitions. A pilot, who knows how to fly aircraft and help move people faster from one place to another A doctor, serving the underprivileged in far-flung areas. This was all in my mind till the time I turned a teenager and the phase came where I was constantly reminded by my relatives of what should I opt for being a girl.

I wanted to do arts but an aunty in the neigbourhood subtly kept hinting that I should choose medicine and become a doctor, more so because her daughter couldn’t do so. And I apprehended it when I had to choose between arts and science. After scoring an A+ I chose pre-medical but my heart didn’t agree to sit in that biology class. And arts was always there as an option!

Finally I decided to convince my parents to let me do what I think I’ll be better at and not what my extended family and neighbours think I should do, fortunately, they agreed. After objections from some family members, I could now do arts and humanities. Today I have learnt that arts and humanities are of great significance.

I did not succumb to the family pressure but a lot of girls out there have to. Parents, before imposing their own will and interests upon their child, should let it be only the child’s right to do whatever they want to. As for relatives and extended family members, they should learn they have no right to impose their will on others.

Nisma Saeed

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2018.

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