parents should allow their children to choose their own careers by eguriase s. m. okaka

Parents should allow their children to choose their own careers

By Eguriase S. M. Okaka Good morning Mr. Chairman, Panel of Judges, Accurate timekeeper, Co-debaters and the audience, I am here to support the motion that parents should allow their children to choose their own career. First, the choice of a career should depend on one’s interest in a particular career. Parents should allow their children to choose careers they have interest in so that later in life, when they start working, they will enjoy their work and carry out their duties effectively. Some who are doctors and engineers today, for example, are not happy because their parents chose their careers for them. How then will they do their work well when they are not happy with what they are doing? I met someone some time ago in the Ministry of Education who told me that she was not satisfy with the ministry’s work. When I asked her why? She said I was trained as a classroom teacher and I have developed a strong passion to teach, and not to sit down in the office working on files. How many of such people do we have occupying positions that they are not supposed to occupy because of career choices?. Tell me how will they do well when they are not happy with what they are doing? Another case worthy of note was a very creative young man whose parents wanted to become a medical doctor because his father said all his friend’s children are medical doctors so I should have one myself. That was how this young man ended up to study as a doctor after graduation, he gave his parents the doctorate degree and went back to the university again to read the course which he had passion for which is engineering and today he is one of the biggest and creative engineers in our region.

Secondly, parents choosing careers for their children results in a waste of money and time later. The majority of people whose careers were chosen by their parents abandon such career shortly after graduation to pursue their own interest. Many who studied professional course like medicine, engineering and pharmacy are today theatre artist, fashion designers or musicians. Their parents must have spent a lot of money and time training them to become professional. Thirdly, I know my opponents may want to say that children are too young to know exactly the career they want to pursue in life. This is true. However, it is because they are young that counselors are employed in secondary schools to advise students on their choice of careers before they start their Senior Secondary School education. These counselors know the students’ capabilities and they are in the best position to advice students on their choice of career. Mr. Chairman, panel of judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters and the audience. I strongly believe that with the points presented here, I’ve been able to convince you all that parents should allow their children to choose their own careers. Thank you all for listening. By Eguriase S. M. Okaka