i am not yet a mother,but i have younger siblings. A time comes for these kids to make important decisions as to what they want to be in future. My younger bro is currently on that bridge. He has purchased his jamb form. It is his first jamb but a problem lies on what he wants to study @ the uni. He is science inclined. Earlier on,it was engineering he wanted,now he wants animal science. It is easy to say i want to be a doctor but when the reality of making that decision is infront of your child what do you do? How do you help as an adult? Please your advice will be of immense help. Thank u

What is he good at and what does he have the passion for?

One thing that confuses young people when it comes to making career choices is the believe that one must go for the courses that guarantee a lot of money. That's why many of them go for medicine, engineering and so on even when they know they don't like it. They are ignorant of the fact that life isn't all about money, that there is a satisfaction that one gets from doing what he likes.

One of my friends who is now an artist initially went to science class. But I told him he was in the wrong place. This guy could draw and make cartoons out of objects yet he went to science class because people around him believed that one must do sciences to succeed. He however switched to the arts and that was the best decision he ever made. Now when I look at him, I can't imagine him being any thing else apart from the artist he is now and he himself is enjoying it.

Also using myself as an example back then in secondary school, I also wanted to study different courses at different times. At first it was physics then it became engineering but as I began to understand what these careers entailed, my choice changed.
When it was time to apply for courses, most of my mates applied for medicine, engineering etc. I knew within me that I could not be an engineer (didn't like the idea of romancing with maths and physics all my life) and I also did not want to be a doctor (it wasn't just for me).
So I applied for something else and I don't regret it. Many of my mates who applied for medicine/engineering had to change their courses after their first attempt failed.

So your brother would have to undergo counselling on the scope of the courses he has in mind so that he can choose the one that best suits him. The thought of being an engineer is great but would he actually want to live the life of an engineer? Counselling will open his eyes to see what each career entails and it will enable him choose the one he is cut out for.

Hope this helps.

Making the choice that your brother is about to make is not easy.

I suggest that your brother tries and gets a first impression of the daily routines of someone who does what he is interested in doing.

If he is interested in being a vet, he should do an internship in a veterinary practice.
He should ask a veterinary to allow him watch him work and in exchange he can help with some minor jobs (e.g. running errands).

Young people should be encouraged to do this several times before it gets to the point where they have to make this important but difficult decision.

carefreewannabe:
Making the choice that your brother is about to make is not easy.

I suggest that your brother tries and gets a first impression of the daily routines of someone who does what he is interested in doing.

If he is interested in being a vet, he should do an internship in a veterinary practice.
He should ask a veterinary to allow him watch him work and in exchange he can help with some minor jobs (e.g. running errands).

Young people should be encouraged to do this several times before it gets to the point where they have to make this important but difficult decision.

tnx a lot,you hv given me very good options except he wont exactly have the time for the internship. He is currently in ss3 and stil attends lessons for his waec on saturday.

PrettyClare7:
tnx a lot,you hv given me very good options except he wont exactly have the time for the internship. He is currently in ss3 and stil attends lessons for his waec on saturday.

He must consider ...

- if he has the necessary skills to study the subject he wants to and to graduate with good marks

- what the job prospects with the certificate that he will get are (employment possibilities, money)

- if he is interested in the subject and feels motivated to engage himself in the subject profoundly


And then he will have to consider where he can study what he wants to and if he (his family) can afford it for him to relocate if necessary.

If after answering all these questions, he is still not able to make up his mind, then he will have to decide intuitively.
That's the only way to make a choice if rationally all options are good.

carefreewannabe:


He must consider ...

- if he has the necessary skills to study the subject he wants to and to graduate with good marks

- what the job prospects with the certificate that he will get are (employment possibilities, money)

- if he is interested in the subject and feels motivated to engage himself in the subject profoundly


And then he will have to consider where he can study what he wants to and if he (his family) can afford it for him to relocate if necessary.

If after answering all these questions, he is still not able to make up his mind, then he will have to decide intuitively.
That's the only way to make a choice if rationally all options are good.

i appreciate these words,n d way u made it quite easy. I wil try it. Tnx a lot. Hopefully,it wil b solved.

eleojo23:
What is he good at and what does he have the passion for?

One thing that confuses young people when it comes to making career choices is the believe that one must go for the courses that guarantee a lot of money. That's why many of them go for medicine, engineering and so on even when they know they don't like it. They are ignorant of the fact that life isn't all about money, that there is a satisfaction that one gets from doing what he likes.

One of my friends who is now an artist initially went to science class. But I told him he was in the wrong place. This guy could draw and make cartoons out of objects yet he went to science class because people around him believed that one must do sciences to succeed. He however switched to the arts and that was the best decision he ever made. Now when I look at him, I can't imagine him being any thing else apart from the artist he is now and he himself is enjoying it.

Also using myself as an example back then in secondary school, I also wanted to study different courses at different times. At first it was physics then it became engineering but as I began to understand what these careers entailed, my choice changed.
When it was time to apply for courses, most of my mates applied for medicine, engineering etc. I knew within me that I could not be an engineer (didn't like the idea of romancing with maths and physics all my life) and I also did not want to be a doctor (it wasn't just for me).
So I applied for something else and I don't regret it. Many of my mates who applied for medicine/engineering had to change their courses after their first attempt failed.

So your brother would have to undergo counselling on the scope of the courses he has in mind so that he can choose the one that best suits him. The thought of being an engineer is great but would he actually want to live the life of an engineer? Counselling will open his eyes to see what each career entails and it will enable him choose the one he is cut out for.

Hope this helps.

tnk u so much dear. Making this kind of decision,is usualy tough for kids. I had my own share of it,bt i am hapy wit wat i hv now. I wil try to get him to read the wonderful comments here , it wil b of help to him.

PrettyClare7:
i appreciate these words,n d way u made it quite easy. I wil try it. Tnx a lot. Hopefully,it wil b solved.

It will.

.
*coming back to comment*

STENON:
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*coming back to comment*

since then you hv nt cme bk. He has made his choice bt you culd help other young ppl

Do you feel your brother is making a mistake?

KanwuliaJara:
Do you feel your brother is making a mistake?

i feel he is confused thats all. It happens to everyone