December 08, 2007

 Gone are the days when becoming a doctor or an engineer was the prime target for enthusiastic parents and kids. Today the whole world has come closer and opened up a wide selection of professions to choose from. But one thing remains truer than ever. The competition is really tough in most of the fields, so one has to do his or her best and work hard to get rich and famous


We have come a long way from the times when education was just restricted to a few professions and opportunities. Today’s children have a myriad of subjects and professions to choose from. All kinds of fields are open to them, be it entomology, marine biology, mass communications, even music and acting to martial arts, yoga and aerobics. All of these and many more await individual capabilities and interests. A person can even master languages and be a linguist and get a good job teaching or translating.

Nowadays, the world has come far from raising kids just to be doctors or engineers or architects. As far as girls are concerned, the opportunities are endless. In fact, they can even join the army or become air force pilots. Event managers earn a good amount by organising weddings, parties, birthdays and office meetings. This includes the decoration, food, seating, ambience and taking care of everything while the host just pays and puts his or her feet up and is ready to greet guests without being hassled.

Entomology is not only the study of ants and insects but opens a whole new world of opportunities in the manufacture of pesticides and their uses. It also provides the knowledge on how the little creatures function, whether they are poisonous and how they incubate. Maybe one day we shall find the antidote for Dengue! Marine biology is not just about fish and water but how humans affect the entire eco-system of a planet and what can be done regarding environment.

The entertainment media is fast becoming a great opportunity for creative people and it gives one the professional know-how regarding advertising and reaching the masses through the different media. The media is not just for entertainment, it is the most powerful tool of getting an idea across. Whether it is television, newspaper, Internet or magazines, the written word has more power than the sword. Journalism teaches one the professional skills on how to go about writing or reporting an event or idea that concerns individuals in society.

For people interested in music, learning to play an instrument or training one’s voice to sing is very professional and has to be learnt under professional experts. Who wants to just increase noise pollution by making unnecessary sounds that do not appeal to anyone? With mankind becoming more and more physically relaxed and undergoing extreme stress due to the fast-paced world of today, exercise has become a must for young and old. Fitness experts and physical exercises like yoga, aerobics and learning martial arts are all part of a healthy mind and body. In fact, people hire personal trainers who charge a hefty sum to come to their houses and help them train.

Learning how to cook is not just for girls anymore. Men are fast leaving the females behind in the culinary arts. Since restaurants are one of the most booming businesses as people opt to eat out for business and pleasure or sometimes as a necessity, learning professional cooking can earn one a good living. Many women who are even well off and do not really have to work to make ends meet, are taking orders for exotic snacks and desserts for parties and gatherings and charge a good sum for their expertise. In fact, a friend just attended a cooking course in Paris while she was abroad and now makes the most exotically sounding and tasting French cuisine and of course charges exotically too!

Furthermore, fashion is no longer a woman’s realm. Men have taken over the designer world by storm. And today fashion schools and institutes are full of aspiring male and female designers. Even local dresses like shalwar-qameez, sari, gharara, sharara and lehnga, etc have all undergone changes and have been spruced up (or down) by the upcoming fashion gurus.

Another interesting female oriented field, make-up and hairstyling has also been entered into by men as more and more saloons impart professional training in beauty treatment and cosmetology. Looking good is no more just about nice outfits and a good shade of lipstick for women. Hair and skin treatments, both natural and technical are being researched everyday to make one look young for longer than usual. Even for herbal treatments, a whole new area of study has to be mastered in order to give professional advice and cosmetics. Aromatherapy, beauty spa treatments and massages are just some of the avenues open for enthusiasts.

With computers being used in every aspect of one’s life, learning different software — that goes into this advanced mode of communication such as designing, printing and all other arenas — has become crucial to be able to compete in this fast-paced world. There are a number of reputable institutes and collages that have degree courses and from then on, one can choose one’s own vocational training.

An interesting aspect about today’s “techie” world is that we have learnt to appreciate our traditional arts. Now the potters’ wheel or the rickety handloom is no more the forte of the poor man or woman of the village. Respectable educational institutions have once again revived the traditional and cultural professions and impart degree programmes in textile weaving and ceramic design including restoring old handicrafts and buildings. This requires great skill and the stuff is more expensive than the regular machine made commodities.

At present, handmade khaddar cloth, handmade paper, hand painted tiles, hand printed cloth and even soaps are specialties that one can learn to manufacture as a cottage industry and open up a shop anywhere. Since everything is done professionally, the stuff is more marketable and can be made in larger quantities.

Knowing about plants and gardens is not the neighbourhood “Mali’s” domain anymore. Thematic landscape gardening needs practice architectural and cultural know how regarding what kind of a look and ambience the owner wants. A Japanese garden will be designed differently than an English or Italian patio and a full knowledge of the typical plants and flowers and the entire layout has to be chalked out according to the right measurements. The colours too are specific for each garden and an extensive professional knowledge is required to do it right and charge a good price for one’s trouble!

Although most parents and kids would love educational opportunities in the West and for those who can afford it and find it the best option, it is a good idea. But going so far away from home is not an option for many. For them there are a number of excellent institutions and collages here in our own home ground.

So gone are the days when becoming a doctor or an engineer was the prime target for enthusiastic parents and kids. Today the whole world has come closer and opened up a wide selection of professions to choose from. But one thing remains truer than ever. The competition is really tough in most of the fields, so one has to do his or her best and work hard to get rich and famous!