A question often repeated by my family and teachers is, “What do you want to become when you grow up?”

From childhood to my current age of sixteen, I, just like you, have changed my career option every now and then. From teacher to a doctor, my decisions fluctuated as I grew older.

Living in a materialistic surrounding, we are forced to become a doctor or an engineer or some such high-paying professional. But I believe that we should have the final say in what we want to do in life. We should let our enthusiasm guide us.

I’m writing this not to discuss things that’ll help one choose a career. I’m writing this to let others know that there is an option that we, the youth, today is ignorant of and the lack of which, to an extent I believe, has failed not only Pakistan but the whole world.

It took me 11 years of education to finally come to a decision of what I want to do and who I want to become. I choose to become a ‘humanitarian’.

I would want to make my stance clearer by defining the ideology. A humanitarian is someone who works for the welfare and well-being of other people. Neglecting race, language, country, culture or religion, he/she works for the comfort and security of people. Humanitarianism is a view, which makes people help, aid, facilitate and assist those in need.

Now to clear the misconception about the professions thriving in our society to be those serving humanity, I would urge that we take a hard look at our environment and ask ourselves, ‘Is humanity actually being served?’

I don’t see any humanity being served or worked for; I see little humanity in what most people do. If we take that a doctor works for serving others by prescribing medicines, doing operations and saving lives, then why do we hear of doctors with fake degrees serving in the hospitals? Why do doctors and hospitals charge such hefty fees and why isn’t quality healthcare free or affordable?

I’m not attempting to say that all doctors are alike, but these things are a fact and we, as the future of our nation, need to wake up. I blame the moral devoid present in the education and upbringing of children, which has unquestionably produced most of the current problems. The descent of moral values in our modern education system has led to a downfall in our performances both as citizens and as members of society.

Some might say that teaching is a noble profession, where one works for the welfare of people. Though I partly agree here, one thing that nags me is the ‘intention’ behind choosing a profession.

It all comes down to what we intend — if the intention is to make money by becoming a doctor, then we are, in my eye, no humanitarian even if we are saving lives every day. Our intentions define who we are. Whatever we choose, whoever we become, we need to bear this in mind that living for others makes life far more peaceful and content.

If I am asked, would I save a soldier from an enemy country knowing that he has martyred our countrymen? Yes, I would save him. This statement might ignite our patriotic soul but this is what I’m trying to preach here. He’s accountable for what he has done and I’m accountable for what I can do when he comes to me for help. Neglecting the differences, we have to rise above these petty disputes. It is time we became sincere to ourselves and humanity at large.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 7th, 2018