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Our daughter changes her career decisions often after discussing with her friends. We are fine with her decisions, but worried with what her choice will be. She is in her 12th Std now

Answered by Team ParentCircle

Dear Parent,

Be assured that there are many parents out there who are in a similar dilemma. Neither you nor your child may yet know what is likely to be the best path for her.  I see something very important in what your daughter is already doing. While you may believe that she could be influenced by her friends, how about viewing all their deliberations and discussions as an exploration of all the options out there? Now here’s where you can step in to offer guidance and support. Each time she comes up with something new, show interest and share what you may know about it. Some children just know what they want to do in the future, and some don’t. For the latter, guidance and direction are what they are seeking while they explore possibilities. For starters, parents’ stories of their career journeys introduce them to the world of work, so do share your stories too – how and why you made your choices, what you enjoy and dislike about your work, what were the constraints and restrictions you had to deal with, what opportunities came your way. Thereafter, she can talk to other adults to learn about their stories and experiences. This exercise broadens her understanding and opens her mind to the numerous factors that directly or indirectly influence career choices.

While you may be fine with any of her choices, you must be involved in a supportive way. Left entirely to herself, she could feel overwhelmed to have to make a big decision on her own.

Children with broad abilities usually find it difficult to make a choice simply because they are interested in numerous things and don’t want to give up any of them. So, their core interests can be divided between careers and hobbies. You could also seek the help of a professional career counselor.

Please follow these links for more guidance:

Career Counselling For Students

Career Guidance: How To Make The Best Use Of Your One Hour With The Career Counsellor

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