Career guidance (1.3.)

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B Y S A L O M E U M L A U F F

NAVIGATING DREAMS: FROM CHILDHOOD FANTASIES TO CAREER REALITIES

When I was growing up, my parents would ask me what I wanted to be when I got older.

I said, “a princess.” A little later they asked again — I said, “an astronaut, flying to the moon.” Then it was “a mermaid, swimming with dolphins.”

But as we grow up, people start expecting serious answers to that question. And somehow, even the idea of being a princess begins to feel further and further away.

I think we’ve all been there—trying to figure out what we want to be, without even knowing how many possibilities life really holds.

That’s why sessions like career guidance seminars are so important. And that’s exactly why we organized one. After explaining the various options, such as vocational training

for students who had completed their 10th grade, or the different college streams available for those finishing their +2, we sat together and listened to each student’s dreams and aspirations. During the group discussion, we offered practical advice based on what each student hoped to achieve.

One student, for instance, had a deep passion for dance, but her parents were not supportive of her ambition. We tried to guide her on how to have an open conversation with them and explore ways to pursue her passion alongside her studies.

Another student aspired to join the army but didn’t know how to take the first steps. We helped her understand the process and pointed out the resources available to her.

It was a day to reflect, to learn, to listen to real experiences—and maybe, to take one small step closer to figuring out not just what we want to become, but who we want to become.