CONSULTING AN EDUCATION COUNSELOR

SELECTING THE RIGHT SUBJECTS!

In this series, I will examine some of the important and relevant questions raised with an education consultant. Please be aware that no question is irrelevant, anything you wish to know must be crucial, so ask away. Each question's applicability is a matter of opinion, be prepared for that. Nonetheless, some queries are fundamentally misguided regarding the solutions they seek. Which engineering field is best for my child, who is failing math? If teaching is the best a historian can accomplish, why even try? What books should my 8-year-old daughter read, if we want her to become a doctor? Seriously!!?

Let's face it, some of these responses deserved nothing more than a pitiful glance, but it is also my responsibility to provide a solution, therefore in all honesty, I do try!!?

I will endeavour to explain some reasonable queries in this series, as well as some absurdly contrary ones. You should be aware that the definition of sensibility varies from person to person.

The process of picking the best subject is one of the most frequent queries I receive. Perhaps 95% of the time it is elevated. I attempt to respond to it with all the knowledge I have accumulated over the past 18 years, even though there is no conclusive solution or tested process. It is crucial to identify your passion for, or at least curiosity about, the topic. Follow your instincts and describe how you feel when you sit down to study a subject you've already studied in the past. Are you excited or tepid? Are you confident or fearful and burdened??

Unless you make a conscious attempt to change it, the way you respond to the subject remains with you. Do not disregard how the topic makes you feel.

If you have not experienced that subject, use your approach for other subjects as your benchmark. What was your most recent study subject? What did you think of it? Is the anticipated methodology akin to a subject you have studied, and how did you find it?

I genuinely believe that if one finds importance in a subject, one can nearly always train and encourage oneself to master it. Add to that your love and passion for the subject and you have a winner.

If you have not experienced the subject in focus, and have no way of knowing how you would handle it - go by your preference for other subjects. What is the nearest subject you have studied? How did you feel about it? Is the expected methodology similar to a subject you have undertaken, did you enjoy that??

I firmly believe that one can almost always train and inspire self to master subjects if one finds relevance. Add to that your love and passion for the subject and you have a winner.

Moreover, keep in mind that you will change your mind about your career and, thus, your choices, at least a few times throughout your life. When your interests, abilities, and values change over time, your career paths may too. It is crucial to cultivate a 'Growth Mindset,' which involves being adaptable and receptive to new chances and opportunities. Even the academic and professional sectors that commit themselves to the study cannot fully explain the definitive process of choosing a career. The concept of choosing a career is a recent development. For the majority of human history, a person's profession was largely determined by their social class, gender, and parents' line of work, as well as, occasionally, by their region and religion.

Cal Newport writes on the dangers of approaching your career with a 'Passion Mindset' and the benefits of having a 'Craftsman Mindset' in his book titled "So Excellent They Can't Ignore You."

Newport defines the two terms as follows:

“The craftsman mindset focuses on what you can offer the world, the passion mindset instead focuses on what the world can offer you. This mindset is how most people approach their working lives.”

I’d like to take that one step further and say the passion mindset is how most people approach their lives. Period. And it’s dangerous. As Newport points out, it’s likely to end in misery:

“When you focus only on what your work offers you, it makes you hyperaware of what you don’t like about it, leading to chronic unhappiness.”

Picking a subject should be a thoughtful process going beyond the obvious solutions. In my experience, even students who abhor, detest, dislike (you get the idea) a subject will study harder if its relevance is made clear. This is especially true with math students. But by the end of the term, there is typically no discernible improvement, and the dread nearly always persists, undermining the efforts made. There are, however, exceptions to the rule; some put forth an unusual effort to get past their 'Confirmation Bias' and clocked measurable differences.

How do you know which one will you be? You don’t!?

Can you do it? Absolutely!!?

Should you do it? …….

Here are some additional aspects to take into account while selecting a subject:

Career Prospects: Where possible, investigate the sectors and businesses where the chosen topic is in high demand to assess the opportunities related to the topic.

Personal Qualities: Think about whether or not the topic fits with your strengths. Think about the subjects that you are good at and can grasp with ease.

Learning Style: Consider the learning style in which you are most successful. Whether theoretical or practical learning is more your style. Are the visual subjects with a focus on design favoured? Focus on what excites you the most.

Future Goals: Where possible, the subjects should support your intended course of study or job. Analyze how various subjects can assist you in achieving them. If you wish to work in healthcare, for instance, you may need to study a subject such as biology or chemistry.

In the end, it's critical to pick a subject that you are enthusiastic about and that complements your skills, objectives, and values. So, the choice of subject is the first and most appropriate question to ask. Make the necessary time and effort to find the solution to this crucial question. A thought process that enables you to make an INFORMED CHOICE should be initiated with your education counsellor.