After XII, what? Try something new

At 11 am today, the HSC results will be posted on college boards. Then begins the chase for those tried-and-tested graduate courses for predictable jobs. Out in the market today are alternate careers our grandparents would have dismissed as salaried hobbies. But it does take a lot of nerve for students to break loose, as Speak Up finds out

Success depends on luck
I  am a commerce student and I am waiting for my results. Even before giving my HSC exams I had fixed up my mind that I will be opting for CA along with B.com. Today there is competition in every field and students need to plan well in advance. I am all ready to appear for my CPT exams . I agree that a large number of students appear for such exams but few have the potential to clear these exams. I don't feel that I have chosen a career that is very common.
 —Nikhil Bhatia 

I want to design jewellery
Jewellery designing is my passion. But I don't have the courage to choose it as my career. There is a stiff competition among students when it comes to choosing a career. An unusual job does not guarantee success. I am planning to take up Bachelor of Management Studies as it offers opportunities for field work. But I am sure I will not let my love for design just waste away. I plan to pursue a course in jewellery designing after college hours.       
—Priya Nanavati

My dad encouraged my career
I  am planning to get into hotel management as it is an interesting stream. Fields that involve research and development fascinate me. Nowadays, students only look upto job options that pay well and hardly anyone dares to experiment. I feel that only if you love doing your job can you be successful in it. I was always interested in cooking, my dad encouraged me to take it up as a career. Engineering, medicine, et al is not my cup of tea. I aim to become as successful and famous as Chef Sanjay Kapoor. He is my idol and I look up to him.   
—Ashish Amin

I like adventure sports
I am doing an MBA now but I have been associated with adventure sports since graduation. I have worked as a volunteer and a freelancer at adventure camps for five years now. I love adventure and that is my sole reason for taking to this field. Once I wrap up my management degree, maybe I will get back to being an instructor but on a full time basis. The only problem is that the field does not offer financial stability yet. But people are showing tremendous interest in adventure sports and I am sure in near future it will become a lucrative profession.  
—Varun Chhibber

I am passionate about cooking
There is nothing that makes me happier than cooking. It gives me great joy to toss up something and serve it to people around. So I am looking at a course in hotel management. I wanted to do something different and hotel management is a boom sector. Cooking, and that too at professional levels, is definitely not seen as a woman's job--the best known chefs are all male. I, along with a few friends have started a company called Creations where we make and sell cakes and chocolates. My parents are supportive about my career choice. 
—Benjamin Isaac

A degree offers safety
I need to support my family financially so I am opting for a degree that will earn me a steady income. I hope my HSC marks are good enough to get me a place in a college that offers Bachelor of Accounting and Finance (BAF). I am aware of the various unusual jobs in the market. Along with BAF, I will work on a course in event management. A lot of Mumbai colleges now offer part time certificate or diploma courses in event management. It would be an additional qualification and could mean an alternate career for me some day.  
 —Akshay Shah

You must feel passion for a job
My children are still confused about what they want to do in life. But I seldom turn down their ideas. I want my children to take up a job that excites them. If my daughter wants to become a designer or beautician I will be completely behind her. But she will need to earn a degree first. That will be the springboard from which she can launch into a career. I like the fact that the youth are experimenting. 
—Diana Menezes

Special interest courses are fine
Children today are very focused about what they want out of life. My son takes his own decisions, I only guide him. I usually agree to his decisions, I turned him down just once. He wanted to do a pilot training course but I knew that he wouldn't be able to manage being weak at Math and Science. If he wants to do a special interest course and not go in for a regular degree I'll support him.
 —Neetu Nebhani

Out-of-the-box thinking is accepted now
Yes, every child is an individual and has the right to choose his career path. If my child wants to do something imaginative I will not restrict his freedom to do so. But you should stick to your decision. There are many career choices available to children today. It is perfectly acceptable to do something out of the box. I always try to encourage my son to do what he enjoys to the best of his ability.
 —Sunita Bagchi

Introduce them to alternate careers
Not many students are willing to opt for alternate careers today because they are simply not aware of them. They do not know that they could go in for off-beat jobs that can bring them success and money. They are also scared of job availability once they finish their studies.
There are many viable alternate careers like mass media, advertising, environmental sciences, hospitality and so on. But I find that students do not feel secure till they have a seat in a so-called safe stream. Parents do play a significant role in guiding children towards careers that suit their interests. But there is a myth, especially among parents, that there is no scope in BSc.
 —Nehal Sequeira. Career counsellor, Young Buzz