How do we help our youngsters discover themselves

Internet is s boon to those who are looking for any specific information, most youngsters now including my children got all the career and guidance for higher studies through the net ...if you know what you want, sky is the limit now !

Unlimited options are there but the candidates have to judge themselves first that what they want to become. Once that is firmly decided then internet can play a huge role in providing all the informations, teachers and elders can guide them as well as career fairs are quite helpful.  

The very word DISCOVER gives a hint, pointing out towards, exploration. One, irrespective of the age has to look into see  or find out the strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats in him. This  analysis is very popular with the name SWOT analysis.Youngsters who practice this analysis  in letter and spirit will never see failures. We have an excellent word ,  " Aatma Parisodhana" in Telugu. Parents will play a key role in injecting this knowledge in to the child from very formative years

It is important to let the youngsters explore the world by themselves, let them take their own decisions and falter and commit mistakes. It is only through such explorations and from mistakes that they will discover themselves and will know what and how they really want to do. Most youngsters still have a creative instinct within themselves which is smothered by the education system under piles of scores and marks. Keeping this instinct will help to a great extent.

usha manohar wrote:

Internet is s boon to those who are looking for any specific information, most youngsters now including my children got all the career and guidance for higher studies through the net ...if you know what you want, sky is the limit now !

I fully agree on you because Internet is the gift which god as provided us and if the youngsters are really confident to move ahead in their career then they should not ask anybody, just go and search in the internet and it will show you the path to success. now the world is so transparent any information is available.

Achieving independence is an essential part of your child's journey to adulthood. Hence it is essential for the parents to make their child's journey smooth and successful. To put it simple, a child needs freedom to find new things on their own. In this process, the child needs parents' guidance and support.

I feel, this happens due to lack of guidance and opportunities. Some cases are like students want to become something which they like but parents them do what they want. Due to the confusion between parents and students wishes the students go into confusion and the real talents hides in them and finally they settle in such a manner there will be no relation between what they studied and what they working. I have seen many people like that. The first example is myself. Am a software engineer. I did btech in information technology but i worked in Search Engine optimization. The reason for my issue is no proper guidance and time for practice and lack of equipment.

sarala wrote:

I feel, this happens due to lack of guidance and opportunities. Some cases are like students want to become something which they like but parents them do what they want. Due to the confusion between parents and students wishes the students go into confusion and the real talents hides in them and finally they settle in such a manner there will be no relation between what they studied and what they working. I have seen many people like that. The first example is myself. Am a software engineer. I did btech in information technology but i worked in Search Engine optimization. The reason for my issue is no proper guidance and time for practice and lack of equipment.

Exactly. It happened in my case. I had a penchant for art. Seeing my Art , i got a seat in the prestigious J.J. School of Ats. But, my parents refused to allow me to study Art. They wanted that I should study Engineering. As a result, I neither became an Artist nor an engineer . I became a Science graduate with border marks. As luck would have it, I got a job in Rourkela Steel plant. It's here i had won many National awards in Safety Posters and calendar designs. After this, I never looked back. During this period, one senior officer happened to see my Art. He recommended my name to the Chief Personnel Manager of just coming up Vizag Steel plant. Then things happened in quick succession. I got a job in Vizag Steel Plant as a Visualizer in the P.R Department. I was trained in the most prestigious Advertising Agencies.

Now after my retirement, I started working in many Advertising firms located locally. Still I'm continuing. 

How do we help our youngsters discover themselves?

It is very essential to give freedom of choice to the youngsters with regard to their career and education. Guidance shd be provided just to show them the choices but they should be allowed to choose. At times they may make a choice that ,they may regret later, but it all adds up to ones experience in life, so nothing goes waste and eventually they will be able to settle down.

Some where I had read, we should help children to create the road to their life themselves and we should not create the road. In short,we should give them the freedom of expression, decision making, encouragement and of course loads of all types of support (financial / emotional) from early days within the ethical boundaries. In that way kids will know their likes / dislikes, what they love to do, enjoy, hidden talents and blah blah blah. Ofcourse even kids will take their own time to know about themselves.

I believe instead of forcing their children into something they don't like to do, parents must allow their kids to explore and understand what they are interested in and what not. Depending on their interest parents can guide their children. Let the child research his own about his likes and then parents can support them financially and mentally as well.

Today's education system is not very practical. Its mainly based on theory. So to understand the practicality of any aspect, kids have to get involved and explore themselves. Many of them may make mistakes but that is a part of it. Parents can guide them at every step but should not pose any restrictions. 

Forcing the children something that they are not willing to do will prove counterproductive. Such activities towards the children make the child stubborn and adamant. In certain cases, the child may rebel. There are several ways to help the children. First of all, parents should listen to the child patiently. This listening enable the parents to have an insight in to the children's likes and dislikes, their ambitions. Basing on these observations parents should build the character and shape of the children. Self esteem ' in the child should be built by the parents alone. Self reliance is another aspect that should be instilled in the child from the very beginning.

By allowing them to commit mistakes and enabling exposure to creative activities  and not comparing with other children.

Parents are the first teachers in a child's life. Hence parents must instill what's right in their children so that it will be a foundation for the child's good character. As the children grow up, this foundation will help them integrate good behavior into their natural habits. It goes without saying that automatically steer the children away from from wrongful behavior.

Yes Usha madam, a huge amount of guidance and counseling of both parents and children are needed.  One more issue is comparing the child with the neighbor's child, or some other child, or even with other siblings in the same family, is a very dangerous thing that is often seen.  This should be totally avoided.  Literally, one has to discover the latent potential.  Once he or she gets to discover this, there will be a huge difference. 

The best thing is to inspire youth to think independently and not blindly follow anything- some great man, some Holy book or forefathers. Bidddha rightly said- apo deepo bhav (be your own guide).  Most of us are like sheep just following. Be man and not sheep. This should be what youth need understand. 

Gulshan Kumar Ajmani wrote:

The best thing is to inspire youth to think independently and not blindly follow anything- some great man, some Holy book or forefathers. Bidddha rightly said- apo deepo bhav (be your own guide).  Most of us are like sheep just following. Be man and not sheep. This should be what youth need understand. 

 

Very true Gulshanji..I agree with your thoughts. I believe too that we need to inspire the youths to do something new, different and with all dedication. Also even if they follow someone, make sure they know the reason why they are following certain things in life.  

Bajirao wrote:

Gulshan Kumar Ajmani wrote:

The best thing is to inspire youth to think independently and not blindly follow anything- some great man, some Holy book or forefathers. Bidddha rightly said- apo deepo bhav (be your own guide).  Most of us are like sheep just following. Be man and not sheep. This should be what youth need understand. 

 

Very true Gulshanji..I agree with your thoughts. I believe too that we need to inspire the youths to do something new, different and with all dedication. Also even if they follow someone, make sure they know the reason why they are following certain things in life.  

Simply saying, youth should be inspired will not work. Parents and peers should lead by example. By showing empathy and recognizing the youth's sincere efforts, Youth can be motivated.