How Does One Decide What They Should Become

Originally posted by: Aanya.

I for one honestly don't think ability suffices. I mean dude you make great omelets but its entirely possible you hate making them, if you know what I mean.

I think interest tops but then you have to be practical too. Like say you wanna become a singer, okay that's awesome. But you can't just dive into singing and become famous because that happens rarely. So it's better to first get your college degree in something else (that you like and can picture yourself doing it for the foreseeable future) and then continue with singing. So if singing doesn't pan out you can fall back on the degree.

For you personally, though, I think you should go with Humanities. But I'm not the one who has to choose so! What other options are you looking in? :)

Originally posted by: -Blessed-

If you want to do a job in future then you will have to see it's scope. If not, then it would be great to study what you are interested in. Apart from cooking what do you like the most? Chose that one! After few days, you will adjust with it. 😊

Originally posted by: epiphany.

These questions have not always been in my head because I never questioned who I wanted to be until I was finally asked to make a choice. Nonetheless, I am going to get straight to the question I'd like us to debate about.

What is more important to evaluate when deciding a career, interest or aptitude?

Since many of us are not endowed with a particular interest we're dearly passionate about, does the ability to do something suffice when we decide to choose it and make a profession out of it? Like 'I am going to be a chef because I make really good omelets' on a more serious scale?

Originally posted by: epiphany.

I have opted for Medical Sciences without Maths, Aanya.

I quite agree with you, mate and I am all for practicality most of the time myself. But just once I feel that until and unless we allow ourselves to make mistakes we would not be satisfied of the outcome of our struggles to become who we become because once we are that person, there are great chances we'd regret it. For example, I make great omelets and I love making them - what are the odds I would be a happy chef once I am one?

As for me, I feel that any stream I choose will greatly cut down on my ability to think for myself. They would give squat about my opinion on what Shakespeare meant when he said something in one of his overrated plays. And even as a Science student, I would only put my head to work in understanding, learning and writing what other people came up with most of the time.

I also like too many things and can do one too many of them well. I can write, speak well and sing. I am a dance enthusiast too and very recently I have started to express interest in photography. I love to bake on occasion and cooking rudimentary meals makes me happy. Surely I cannot consider each one by one as a career option? The reason behind my choosing Medical Sciences nonetheless is because I want to know if I can make something out of my humanitarian approach towards life. The idea of being able to fix a human body fascinates me and even after never being quite the hard worker, I am keen on giving it my very best attempt.

Originally posted by: herms_angel

I am of the opinion too that aptitude doesn't work in the long run. Because if you look at realistically, both interest and aptitude play their respective roles in shaping ones career. If something doesn't particularly interest you and you are just good at it because you have been trained to do so, that can be called aptitude, but would it work if you have not one ounce of interest?

I get the drift, mate. I so very much do. I score well in English and everybody at school takes it for granted that I love the subject and when I tell them that it is boring they think I am being unreasonably ridiculous. 😆

Lets say, I loathe mathematics, but I can still be good at because I have been trained that way, does that mean I can become a great Mathematician? No. Now, lets say I have interest in animation or graphics, will I be able to get myself a decent career just on the basis that I can photoshop and love editing? Again, no.

I personally feel, interest plays a larger role and aptitude a minor but you still cannot possibly achieve what you wish to until you have a good mix of both. I have been in the same place and I know how difficult making this choice can get. You may take numerous advices from people and experts but each one will show you a different direction and if you don't get it right, you will end up all the more confused. Though I am not very satisfied with the stream I am currently in, I at least know I might have any way ended in the same place and hence I may be able to get a decent career out of it, hopefully.

That's true. Everybody has their own opinion to share. By means of this debate, I came seeking that only. I do not want people's advise but their testimonials to arrive at a decision. People's advise should and must not affect one's choice of career because it's greatly what they see you become, not what you see yourself as.

If you go for unconventional careers that take their time to bloom, like singer or a dancer, you can. But you cannot be dependent on it wholly, so its always a safe bet to have a backup, have a degree to fall back. Incase plan A backfires, go for plan B!

I agree. Plan B is essential. That being said, Plan B can only be framed after plan A is and in action. So, I'll be working on Plan A first. 😳

For you, I will only say weigh your options carefully. Never go for what people say or how the future scope for a particular profession may be or what the job market says. At end of the day, it is important for you to know and feel that where ever you are, it because you made the decision. You don't have one else to blame or credit to depending on how things shape up. You know, it was all the way you and only you. Given your humanitarian approach, interest and willingness, you are showing for Medicine, you can go for it. If down the line, you feel you may not be able to do justice to MBBS or to yourself, you could always change the route and still be in the same profession, say BDS, Pharmacy, Nutrition or anything as such. By then you'd be able to choose more clearly. However there's always a BUT, a but that says 10 or 20 years down the line, you should be able to say you love what you do, you love what you are and given a choice you would make the same choices, again. :) All the best! 🤗

Thank you, Husna. You are honest, kind and practical. Not only is your account of great help to me, it also honors me to have you as me friend, yeah? And the part in bold is one of the wisest things I have heard in days. Twenty years down the line, I would not want to regret what I become. I wish to love who I am and what I do then. That's the whole point behind my seeking experiences and opinions here. (:

🤗

Originally posted by: boreddamsel

I think in order to pick a career, you should at least be interested in it or have the aptitude or the will to work hard and improve!

But whether you want to stay in the same career or choose an alternate career requires more thinking.

For me, the most important factor is happiness and job satisfaction. If I am not happy about my work, I cannot survive there. I jumped from college to industry, but now am back in school.. almost went back to industry, but decided to stay back in school and I think I want to teach now.

Other things you could consider are money, fame, time commitments, responsibilities, environment, ... Do you want a job that pays you more, or one where people will notice you and appreciate you, a job that is flexible with regards to the working hours .. do you prefer being told what to do or do you enjoy your freedom to choose your work, do you enjoy working with people or working alone?

Hmm.. not exactly sure if that's what you wanted to know..