Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Advice For Students Entering XI

Entering high school is perhaps the most crucial phase in the life of a teenager. This is the time when you will have to make concrete plans about your future. This will determine the course for the rest of your life.

The moment you enter XI standard, you should take utmost care in the choice of your subjects.
 
i. An ideal thing to do is to consult academicians, relatives and guardians. 

ii. Today, options are not limited to science, maths, commerce or arts. If you are good in maths, physics and any of the fields related to these subjects appeal to you only then opt these subjects. If you scored good marks in mats but were poor in physics or you did not find the laboratory of physics appealing, there are other options for you. If you want to  
iii. Even otherwise, there are options available for jobs after X for students in Army, Navy or Coast Guards. You can also refer to a list of institutes for courses in ITI, provided on our site vocational institutes in India. 

iv. If you have a flair for writing and have a good command over language then you can go for arts in XI standard and simultaneously develop your writing skills. Later you can go for journalism course during your graduation. 

v. Likewise, if you have a penchant for music or acting or modeling then you can choose subjects that may help you in pursuing these careers after your XII. For a list of career options in music or acting or modeling.

vi. If you like pursuing a particular sport then do not feel shy or awkward about it. On the other hand, pursue your studies along with sports. Chose such subjects which may give you ample time to practice that particular sport.

This helps you in several ways : 

1. It makes it easier for you to pursue a career in sports. 
2. There is no alternative to formal education. 
3. Formal education equips you better to handle the nuances of the sports. 
4. Formal education prepares you, for life, after your sporting career is over. 
5. It provides you a chance to display your skills at the pre- University and the University levels. This increases your chances of selection in the National team. Therefore, it becomes imperative that you chose your subjects in XI very wisely and careful deliberation. For a choice of careers in sports. 
6. Of course, you should give due consideration to the circumstances, social status, priorities of your family, your physical attributes, your own limitations and capabilities and so forth. 
7. However, you should keep in mind your own priorities. 

8. Academic competence increases if you are able to devote your energies towards the field of your choice. 

9. You should keep an open mind. You should not go for the traditional careers just because somebody suggested or somebody tried to convince you. 

10. You can go for your SWOT analysis i.e. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. You should build on your strong points, try to minimize your weaknesses, try to grab the opportunities that may come your way and be wary of perceived threats. You may consult a professional Psychologist if you so feel like. 

11. These days there is a plethora of information. Do a crosscheck about a given career option. Research well in advance over career options. 

12. Do not feel shy of seeking the help of a professional Career Counselor. Feel free to consult National Network of Education. 

13. You should never doubt your own capabilities. Half the battle is lost when you start doubting your own capabilities. 

14. Remember that there is no short cut to success. At the same time, if your field of hobby becomes your field of career, chances of success increase manifold.

Arriving at your best career option is possible, only if you gather as much information as possible on diverse professions and educational opportunities. In no way you should be prejudiced about a job and end up attaching unqualified superiority for professions like medicine, engineering, and the civil services, though one can always have preferences for. Remember at the end of the day all it matters is how much you excel in a profession and the rest follows.

The list of careers is perhaps again like the imagination of a poet, endless. Every body has a place under the sun even if the sun is not benign, you can still make your mark under it by choosing a career option close to your heart. Never mind, you are not good at mathematics or science, you can still choose from a plethora of options from the commerce stream, humanities, and vocational courses. You name it and we have it. Here we at National Network of Education are trying a role, howsoever insignificant it may seem, to simplify things for you. With the help of National Network of Education, each career option seems like the grains appear as a pearl on the golden beach.