Have you ever sat in a rickshaw, without knowing where you wanted to go? Of course not! But what about life? Do you really know what you want out of life?

How interesting would be a shooting match without the targets? That's what our life is without aim or goals. Setting an aim is the best way to motivate yourself. When you set an aim, they function in two ways - you operate on them and they work on you. They set a tangible target to shoot for. For many of us, setting goals and achieving them is synonymous to success in the game.

Aim in life also give a purpose and meaning to life. They help you prioritise on a day-to-day basis. Without aim in life, it becomes very easy to get caught up in activities that are useless and do not contribute to our vision. They also help you achieve more than what you could ever dream of. To reach your potential, you need to remain focussed in areas of strength and satisfaction. Having a goal will also provide you feedback on how well are you doing.

And finally, goals help you to carve out your future, and shift your focus from activity to net output. Having a goal does wonders to your personal effectiveness. A well-set goal places you at the half-way mark on the track of success.

UNDERSTAND YOURSELF AND FOLLOW YOUR HEART.

The choice of which way to proceed rests with you. To make an informed choice, your first responsibility is to understand yourself and the opportunities that lie before you. The knowledge of "self" is one area, which has illusioned human being the most. This is a very important because of the fact that it is one among the stepping stone towards success. When we talk about the success at work and in one's chosen career field, knowledge of self becomes utmost important. In order to examine this ask yourself these questions:

What do I like doing in life?
What can I do well in life?
What do I really want to do in life?
What do I value in my life?

It is an obvious point to make, but your studies will be more satisfying and the outcome more rewarding if you are really committed and interested. Nothing could be more satisfying than studying the subject matter directly related to your future career and developing skills which will be direct use in the field of work you are hoping to pursue.

You need to know where your "heart" is, henceforth develop the skills needed to follow it. Understand that there is more to life than just money. Dr. Abdul Kalam, the 13th President of Republic India could have chosen to settle in the U.S. There is no doubt he would have earned more money than what he does now. However, as an immigrant scientist in a foreign country would he have enjoyed the kind of fame he does in India? This is the question to be considered. So examine yourself, find out your desires and interest, and then decide on a career.

The career planning process has two distinct phases: one is in terms of educational qualification and another is career strategies in the job market. In the past, career planning at the school and college levels were not given adequate thrust. Students generally moved from one class to another and then gained admission into some college. The impending question of a career surfaced only after graduation.

This traditional approach to career planning has undergone tremendous changes in the last decade in other states of India. And also, career planning is now an integral part of the school and college set up. Students are being exposed to a variety of choices and opportunities right from Std VII in an attempt to prepare them for the highly competitive career market place. This is certainly a positive sign for other states. But in Manipur we are still lagging behind.

APTITUDE IS WHAT MATTERS MOST

There is no such thing as good or bad career. In fact it is impossible to grade or rank careers, except according to demand. The reason is quite obvious. What is good for one may be unsuitable for another. It is wiser to train as per your strengths and aspirations, along the lines of the working styles and environment that attract you and go with your personality. Making decisions on the basis of what others think often gets people of all ages into trouble.

Go by what is right for you. American writer Hugh Prather wrote, "I am the best authority for what is right for me". This holds true in the career decision as well. The ultimate question is what are you most suited for?

Ronaldo's skill is in football. Bill Gates' in computers and information technology. What is yours? For decades Manipuri students have been forced into believing in the superiority and social value of engineering and medicine. The 21st century is the right time to shed such conservative concept. The right way to approach a career is to think in terms of what suits you best.

Since the last few decades, Manipuris have been giving undue importance to science subjects, under the misconception that science increases the area of opportunities.

It may however be mentioned that mathematics, widely associated with the science stream, can be taken along with humanities subjects and this could widen the options. A lot of higher education becomes easily accessible if you have studied mathematics till the plus two level.

Most institutions offer students a choice of subjects within a particular stream, such as commerce, arts, humanities and science, wide enough to cover the needs of many professions. However, as the streaming is done after class 10, around the age of 14-16 years, the selection of a particular stream will affect the choice of a career.

Do not make the common error of allowing present existing social norms or parental pressure to influence your career decision. Don't end up in college with narrow views of jobs that you picked up through hearsay, TV versions of trial lawyers, cops and medicos or through parental pressure on you to go into engineering, computers or management. The opinion of parents, friends and sometimes teachers have dominated the career planning process in the past. While it is advisable to consider different points of view, the decision should ultimately be yours. After all you are the one who would spend a lifetime in the career which you have chosen.

MAKE A WISE CHOICE

Career decisions are extremely critical and cannot be decided overnight. So, give it careful thought, beware of common errors and understand there is professional help and plenty of information available. Use them all and make a wise choice. Planning a career is like drawing without an eraser. May yours be a masterpiece.

The present situation of our State needs trained professionals in the subjects like Mass Communication, Master in Social Work (MSW), Public Relation, Human Rights, International Law, Career Guidance, etc.

In your career research, remember that everything you learn counts.

Lastly, if Sachin Tendulkar's parents had forced him to become an engineer or a doctor, he would not have been famous as he is now. So my request to all the parents and teachers is, find out the hidden qualities of your children and your students and train them as per their capabilities.

"The job of a teacher is to excite in the young a boundless sense of curiosity about life, so that the growing child shall come to apprehend if with an excitement tempered by awe and wonder." --- John Garrett.

"If you plan for a year, plant a seed. If for ten years, plant a tree. If for a hundred years, teach the people. When you sow a seed once, you will reap a single harvest. When you teach the people, you will reap hundred harvests." --- K'uan - T'zu, 551-479 B.C.