‘It’s time to set your goals’
Published: October 24, 2011 00:00 IST | Updated: October 24, 2011 04:02 IST
SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE
Intermediate or plus two is considered to be the most important phase in the life of a student.
This is the period when the young minds are on the threshold of a desired and fruitful career.
But going by the present trend, ambition seems to take the backseat and external environment influence is in the driving seat.
One should not regret later for having taken up a course that does not give the satisfaction or happiness.
The first correct step in this direction is to identify the internal motivator. “Basically there are two motivating factors in the life of a student: External and internal. External motivators are the peers, parents and superficial understanding of things,” says the Director of CTC Communications, A.S. Prasad.
External motivators
Lot many people take up professional courses like engineering or medicine just because their classmates or friends have joined or their parents would have influenced them. “In most of the cases the influence is very strong and students end up taking up courses that do not appeal to them or the subjects are not part of their core strength. In such cases a majority of them end up as unsuccessful professionals or losers in the long run,” says he.
Internal motivators
This is one area that one has to identify at the earliest. It is nothing but identifying the area or activity that one loves the most and then translating that energy to reality.
Quoting a few examples the Director of CTC, says, “One might like to play chess. The playing habit identifies with the ability to analyse and work out logical solutions. This could open up avenues or careers that require such abilities like financial analysts, software analysts and civil services. Similarly, a cricket enthusiast could thing of taking up a career in core engineering modules like mechanical, electrical or civil or MBA (marketing or HR), as that requires a lot of teamwork and leadership qualities,” says he.
How to identify
The most difficult thing lies in identifying the inner motivating factor. This can be done by conducting an individual SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity and threats) analysis. “The identification of strength is relatively easier than the others. The most difficult part lies in recognising the weakness. The students can use the technique of group dynamics to assess the weaknesses,” says he.
Once the strengths and weaknesses are identified, the students can then focus on improving the weak areas and convert the strength to opportunities.
The threats can be perceived as external environment factors and the values. While the external factors can be overcome by proper counselling the difficulties lie in harnessing the values.
Values
It is something that one likes to associate with and it plays an important role in developing the internal motivating factor. “Ask a simple question to yourself, why would I like to become an IAS officer or a software professional or a fashion designer? The answer would define your values. Many students intend to join the civil services for the sake of fame, name, power and money.
But the successful ones are those who had set certain positive goals like giving back something to the society, serving the people or eradicating corruption. Bill Gates wanted to create a global village and that value set his goals and made him successful. Fame, money, glamour and glitz are by-products of success. Value is the only pivoting factor.
The value should be original, meaningful and concrete and not a superficial one,” says Mr. A.S. Prasad.
With the competitive exams like EAMCET and IIT are over are about to be completed, it’s time to sit back and do a self analysis.