We are at the halfway point of the school year and we have started some discussions about career choices and options with my son. He is almost 7-1/2 and in second grade at a public school. He is a bright kid who, much to my South Asian pride, is good at math and science. He is also an excellent reader, good at spelling, social studies, language arts, and foreign language. He also goofs off in class, chit-chats, and is out of his seat a lot, but we're working on that...
As any Indian parent would agree, a child's education and career choice is of utmost importance. Aside from their practical value of providing a financial and economic stability in adulthood, a child's academic and professional success are as much a matter of parental pride as they are a reflection of parenting skills. Most South Asian parents consider academic and intellectual pursuits an investment in their child's future and are willing to spend top dollar to do so. A child who becomes a successful adult is a good return on investment.
Now that the tall one is in second grade, we have begun discussions about different career choices. Like any seven-year-old, when asked what he wants to be when he grows up, he'll eagerly state, in this order, professional soccer player, astronaut, and scientist. While I admire his desire to excel, the fact is that some career choices are more realistic than others, which is one thing that we will explore. Rather than be the parent to rain on his parade and dreams of becoming a global soccer star, I am giving him the opportunity to explore these careers and compare and contrast them in a realistic way.
For our 2nd grade career portfolio, he will choose a few potential careers and then research them at the library and on the internet. Identify the education and training requirements, both in years of education and any specialized schools and training required. Also find the potential income level of said career. Lastly interview someone who is in that field and find out what their job is like, what a typical day entails, and what they like about their job.
The objective is to provide him with a framework to make accurate comparisons between different professions. I think this will be a fun and valuable exercise, although finding a professional soccer player to interview might be a bit of a challenge. At the very least, I think it will can serve as an opening for more involved discussions as he moves ahead in school.
