Parents should not impose careers on their children
Oct 17, 2007
LIKE many young people, Namawejje wanted to pursue her dream career. She always talked of being a journalist and a best-selling author some day. She excelled in Literature and English, read so many novels and even joined the Writers Club in school. At A’level, the time came when she had to apply f
By Carol Kezaabu
LIKE many young people, Namawejje wanted to pursue her dream career. She always talked of being a journalist and a best-selling author some day. She excelled in Literature and English, read so many novels and even joined the Writers Club in school. At A’level, the time came when she had to apply for university.
Her first choice was Mass Communication but her father, who was with her, insisted that she apply for Law as the first choice. Her resistance was to no avail, her father was adamant and she eventually gave in. She put Mass Communication as her second choice and when the university admissions were released, she had been admitted on government sponsorship to do Mass Communication.
She was excited at the prospect of following her original dream but her father, a lawyer, still preferred that she do Law. He told her to apply for Law on private sponsorship and she did. Today, she is in her fourth year, a finalist Law student. She is just one of many whose parents are dictating what career paths they should follow.
Richard Ssebaggala, a career guidance counsellor with E-Z Concepts at Clement Hill Road says that most parents plan the career paths of their children from the moment that they are born. They want the children to go to the same schools they went to, do the same course at the university that they did or wanted to do but didn’t have the points or money to do it. They want their children to be doctors, pilots, lawyers and engineers without considering the interests and abilities of the children.
“You have to counsel parents not to force their children into areas of intellect instead of interest.†says Ssebaggala.
What are your child’s interests?
Parents should try to discover the interests of their children from the very start. When the child starts to show particular interest in something, be it dancing, reading, Maths, art, cooking or teaching, encourage the child and help him or her to know and understand all the available options to make their dreams a reality.
In addition, they should show support for the child’s choice even if they wanted the child to take on a different one.
It is therefore important for parents to get career guidance in preparation for the time they will be giving it to their children. When a child starts to make inquiries about the different careers, the parent should be well informed to educate the child without bias. Career guidance should start at primary school and then be emphasized at secondary school. Many schools are now requesting parents to be part of career guidance days.
Albert Kakama, Human Resource Manager and counsellor at Uganda Management Institute says that career guidance should start at a very young age.
“How you are oriented and advised when you are young matters,†he says.
Children should be exposed to all the options available to them so that they can discover where they are strongest. When the child is growing up and he or she has been given access to all the necessary and appropriate information, making a career choice will be easy. But this can only be possible if the parents are informed too. Parents should be encouraged to seek guidance together with their children.
Mary Butamanya, a career guidance counsellor with Uganda Counselling Association advises parents to stop trying to live their dreams through their children because children too have their own dreams to fulfil. She adds that some parents have canged careers after getting career guidance with their children. The sessions are relevant to both parents and their children but the earlier they begin, the better.
LIKE many young people, Namawejje wanted to pursue her dream career. She always talked of being a journalist and a best-selling author some day. She excelled in Literature and English, read so many novels and even joined the Writers Club in school. At A’level, the time came when she had to apply for university.
Her first choice was Mass Communication but her father, who was with her, insisted that she apply for Law as the first choice. Her resistance was to no avail, her father was adamant and she eventually gave in. She put Mass Communication as her second choice and when the university admissions were released, she had been admitted on government sponsorship to do Mass Communication.
She was excited at the prospect of following her original dream but her father, a lawyer, still preferred that she do Law. He told her to apply for Law on private sponsorship and she did. Today, she is in her fourth year, a finalist Law student. She is just one of many whose parents are dictating what career paths they should follow.
Richard Ssebaggala, a career guidance counsellor with E-Z Concepts at Clement Hill Road says that most parents plan the career paths of their children from the moment that they are born. They want the children to go to the same schools they went to, do the same course at the university that they did or wanted to do but didn’t have the points or money to do it. They want their children to be doctors, pilots, lawyers and engineers without considering the interests and abilities of the children.
“You have to counsel parents not to force their children into areas of intellect instead of interest.†says Ssebaggala.
What are your child’s interests?
Parents should try to discover the interests of their children from the very start. When the child starts to show particular interest in something, be it dancing, reading, Maths, art, cooking or teaching, encourage the child and help him or her to know and understand all the available options to make their dreams a reality.
In addition, they should show support for the child’s choice even if they wanted the child to take on a different one.
It is therefore important for parents to get career guidance in preparation for the time they will be giving it to their children. When a child starts to make inquiries about the different careers, the parent should be well informed to educate the child without bias. Career guidance should start at primary school and then be emphasized at secondary school. Many schools are now requesting parents to be part of career guidance days.
Albert Kakama, Human Resource Manager and counsellor at Uganda Management Institute says that career guidance should start at a very young age.
“How you are oriented and advised when you are young matters,†he says.
Children should be exposed to all the options available to them so that they can discover where they are strongest. When the child is growing up and he or she has been given access to all the necessary and appropriate information, making a career choice will be easy. But this can only be possible if the parents are informed too. Parents should be encouraged to seek guidance together with their children.
Mary Butamanya, a career guidance counsellor with Uganda Counselling Association advises parents to stop trying to live their dreams through their children because children too have their own dreams to fulfil. She adds that some parents have canged careers after getting career guidance with their children. The sessions are relevant to both parents and their children but the earlier they begin, the better.