After completing Class XII, students are often confused whether to follow their passion or should industry trends make for their career choice. Dr Ketan Kotecha shares tips to simplify decision-making

It is that time of the year where over thousands of students need to make a critical decision; a decision that can make or break their professional lives. It is time to select a professional course such as engineering, medical, commerce and arts. When it comes to making this decision, students often need to choose between the two: Should I follow my passion and choose a stream that can help me earn well?

Most of the students in our country often opt for the second option. This is because choosing an engineering stream which offers a secure and well-paying job seems like the right thing to do, or so their parents and friends advise. But, is this really true?

Let’s look at a few surveys to find out. According to a survey by Times of India, 65 per cent of students enrol in engineering courses due to parental pressure. The survey states that most of these students do not have a strong aptitude for subjects such as physics and maths; which are the key subjects in engineering. Despite this, they are forced into studying in one of the many engineering colleges in our country. It is not only the parents that force students into taking up a course they do not want to.

The survey also states that students often enrol for a course because their friends are doing it. A few of the other reasons why individuals pursue a particular stream or course is because it is considered the most sought-after choice in the industry and offers excellent job opportunities. Most of the times students make a decision due to one of these factors. And, what happens next?

Making a decision because it will help you land with a fancy job or make your parents happy eventually leads to dissatisfaction, low productivity and an increase in stress levels. At times, this can even become a fatal choice. According to an article published in a national daily, suicide is the leading cause of death among those aged between 15-29; the youth in our country.

These figures make it clear that the way we are doing things needs to be changed immediately. Parents and students, both, need to get rid of the common myths that surround them. A few of these include one needs to study Civil Engineering to become successful, campus placement is everything and your marks define your life. Only when we, as a society, are able to move on from such misconceptions, we can come closer to being a progressive and productive country.

One of the ways to do this is by giving students the freedom to choose what they want to study and lead a career which they really want to pursue. Students can do this by identifying their interests and skills. Now, choosing a profession based on what's passion might not always be the most financially sound option. But, at least, one can lead a professional life which they chose and are really passionate about.

Today, students have more options than ever. This makes it easier for them to pursue a career which piques their interest. All they need to do is ask questions such as “What interests me the most?”

Is it tinkering with different types of devices? If yes, one can choose Mechanical Engineering. “Is it learning how the automated world functions?” Then, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Engineering can be a suitable option. “Do I want to solve the energy crisis and work towards building a better environment?” If you do, then Environmental Engineering is the right choice. Finding answers to such questions will help students figure out a career which they are excited about and evolve into an expert in that field.

At the end of the day, students need to be satisfied with their decision. They should know trends may come and go, placement statistics can change, and parents and friends will move on. One thing which will remain constant is their decision; which can influence their professional life positively. This is why students should consider choosing a professional course based on their passion and interests alone.

The writer is Director & Dean, Symbiosis Institute of Technology