OUR society is plagued by a tendency to judge students on the basis of the profession they wish to adopt. Judging students based on their chosen subjects for intermediate level of studies has become a norm in Pakistan.

Our typical mindset makes us believe that students taking up Faculty of Science (FSc) or Intermediate in Computer Science (ICS) programmes are ‘intellectuals’, while those who choose the Faculty of Arts (FA), meaning Humanities, do not have a sharp mind able to think critically.

There are many who want to choose FA, but do not do that simply because they fear the reaction of family and friends. They leave their passion behind, and opt for FSc. Many traditional parents also pressure their children because they want them to become either doctors or engineers. Unfortunately, they forget to ask their children what they actually want to study, and, as a result, they suppress their children’s talents, which could help them excel in the real world.

I was the lucky one in this context. In May 2024, I got admission in FSc pre-medical. However, in December, I realised that FSc was not my cup of tea. Making use of the time still left in the deadline, I shifted to the FA stream. I immediately realised that choosing the right subjects allowed me to balance my studies and activities that interested me. The reason behind this swift transition was the support of my parents and the trust they had in me.

Parents across the board should prioritise their children’s personal choice over much else. As such, career counselling after marticulation examinations can play an important role in helping students understand what are the subjects that align with their interests and ambitions.

M. Abdul Majid Wattoo
Lahore

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2025