My qualifications: I work closely with students and parents on school and career choices.
I'm not sure if you've noticed it, but I keep seeing the same pattern over and over.
Students aren't lacking ability – they just lack clarity.
The real issue is that nobody helps them sort it out early.
Usually it goes like this:
* 10th tak → "abhi time hai, baad mein sochenge"
* 11th → pick a stream without proper research
* 12th → panic mode starts
* after 12th → "ab kya kare?"
By the time they ask the right questions, they're already too late.
Then decisions are rushed:
* random course
* random college
* just a safe option
I've seen genuinely smart students get confused simply because they never got proper guidance at the right time.
This isn't just a student problem – it's a system problem.
Question: When did you start thinking seriously about your career – before 11th, in 12th, or after 12th?
I did a plain B.A. After that, I had two options – prepare for government exams, mainly banking, or do an M.A. in English. I went with the latter, but even now I'm still figuring things out.
Hey, can I DM you? Since you work closely with students on career choices, I'm really stuck and could use some help.
I started thinking seriously before 11th.
I don't understand why choosing a stream in 11th is treated as such a huge deal. In every stream you study and sit exams. None of them involve research that makes you think deeply about the subjects.
True. I was set on a medical career in 12th, but after two years of dropping and preparing, I switched to tech.
I was always passionate about physics, but I chose electrical engineering because I feared there wouldn't be enough job opportunities. I regret that now – I'd rather follow what I love than chase money.
It wasn't about being serious; it was about wanting a deeper understanding of how things work. I didn't realise that picking a stream after 10th would shape the rest of my life. If I'd known, I would have gone for medical instead of what I chose. Now, as a post‑grad in my field, I can't go back to study medicine – that chance is gone. It hurts not knowing this earlier.