Planning for study after 10th/SEE or 12th

Does education and interest always go hand-in-hand? Are students well aware about study after 10th/SEE or 12th? Does everyone decide to make a career relatively in the same field of their study?

If you ask me then my answer would be ‘quite a yes but ‘mostly a no’. I have experienced it myself, seeing people from all walks of life and even from many parts of the world.  Poorly, students in their schooling level lack awareness so they cannot define what to study after 10th/SEE or 12th. And some even used to be my friends, relatives, his friends, her friends and so on. I see people drop out of their studies because it was never the right one for them and they never believed in it.

I also see some who have been carrying the same profession for quite a long time. Factors associated may be but due to social pressure, to be at least engaged in something and most importantly with the notion of what others would think.

How education and interest are related?

Education is very important if you wish to perform well in your future in a particular career. But the stream (science, management, arts, education, etc.) that you choose helps you decide on making the correct move. Sometimes, your particular interest in it can reward you for your lifetime. Suppose, you want to become a journalist but all the way you have been either studying science or management, that does not validate. Even the job market seeks someone who has done the same type of degree.

In such a case, does your interest in making a career in the journalism field make any sense? Has your education found the correct pathway in establishing your career forward?

One can always switch their studies but the time and effort that you’ve made all the way would go in vain. Also, another key aspect i.e. the investment would have found no purpose and it’s all wasted.

Choosing your stream/study after 10th/SEE and 12th

Till your schooling i.e. grade 10th you are in a relaxed zone; you don’t have to worry about your future and what are you going to make out of your life. Maybe, it is not your fault. The courses in most countries and even in Nepal are designed in the same way. Even your teachers are trained similarly, just to prepare students to pass their School leaving certificate. And when a student steps out after their results then comes the real challenge, they have no idea about what to study further.

Most of their decisions are already made by their parents based on their scores and they are still relaxed since they would not have to scratch their head at least for two years more. This is where students and even parents go wrong. Both should be able to scroll through the options and consult mentors.

Stream/study options clarity after 10^th/SEE:

Some of the examples of streams along with which career students can fit it could be:

SCIENCE- Doctor, Engineer, IT, Scientist, Biologist, Environmentalist, Pharmacist, etc.

MANAGEMENT/COMMERCE- Business Consultant, Admin officer/manager, Accountant, Banker, Auditor, etc.

ARTS/EDUCATION- Fashion designer, Interior designer, Journalist, Filmmaker, Artist, Animator, Photographer, Social Worker, Teacher, etc.

These are just some examples. Also, one can always experiment with their career provided the degree/certificate they’ve obtained fulfills the requirement for that particular job. For example, those who have studied science/management or even arts can always become a teacher but any of these streams might have other limited scope. One who has studied management can never become a doctor or put his foot forward as an engineer.

However, there are options for students in the science stream at their higher secondary level. They can join business studies or some subjects related to arts in their Bachelor’s degree. But, those with arts or commerce backgrounds would not be able to join science-related subjects in their Bachelor’s degree.

Career as per your interest

Heard of names like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs somewhere? They are successful names and they have contributed to society as a whole and have made huge profit for themselves as well. Do you think they have gone the straightway studying whatever they were asked and then making the correct career decision? No. After realizing what they should be doing, they changed their direction and hence they were able to figure out what worked best for them.

Alternatively, it might not always work for you and me. What worked for him/her might not always work for me and vice-versa. There are factors like hard work, determination, and a lot of patience associated with it. Provided you take a chance, you can always decide someday or the other. Ultimately, it is also about finding the perfect stream for your career.

Best decision

Some people discover their career right after the completion of their schooling, some after higher secondary or after graduation. It may take it a little longer for some, rest may determine even after already gaining some years of experience. The important thing is to be able to move towards self-discovery and make the correct decision. At the end of the day, you should be happy and unless you are not, you would never be able to convince others and make them believe you are on the right path.

In this journey, sometimes you would have to be hard on yourself and sometimes take life very easy but after the sweat and tears, there should be contentment, peace, and growth. If every student is able to address which study area would be best after 10th/SEE or 12th then it will automatically help solve all the problems.