Why is it so difficult for teenagers to choose a profession

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Being a teenager is not easy anyway, but here you also have to choose a profession. At the age of 14-15, the problem takes on a universal scale. The life hacker learned from a career counseling specialist why the choice is so difficult and how parents can help with this.

The requirement to choose a profession hits children suddenly, like a natural disaster. The trouble came from where they did not expect. Until recently, it was so interesting to fantasize about “What will I become when I grow up?”, But already at the age of 14-15 this question terrifies adolescents. After all, they still do not feel that they have grown, and the decision needs to be made almost immediately and, as it seems to them, for the rest of their lives.

Those units who managed to easily make a choice and believe in it feel lucky. And no wonder, because a lot of problems are automatically solved for them. Where to go? What subjects should I take? What is the best way to prepare for the exam?

Others notice that these guys have increased self-confidence. Still would! They now know who they are. A future doctor, a future psychologist … It is not surprising that their motivation to study suddenly increases. Parents no longer have to wring their hands and threaten to get homework done. The child himself enthusiastically studies the structure of the skull, derivatives, prepares for the Olympiads. The parental paradise is becoming available to some of us.

But why is this happiness bypassed by so many families? In practice, I constantly come across the same reasons.

Reason 1. They are not interested in anything

Social networks, parties, computer games - this is a gentleman's set of a modern teenager, an outwardly decent child of decent parents. There is no time or desire for something else. But he is always busy, as it were, with business. Embedding something else in his life is like putting a new satellite into orbit: colossal expenditures of energy, resources and desire, which are not there. Vicious circle.

But without gaining experience, it is impossible to know if you will enjoy this activity. And time goes by. The closer the end of school, the more anxious in my soul, the higher the pressure from all sides. And the growing, according to the laws of physics, adolescent resistance: "Leave me alone, I will decide later."

Why it happens?

The one who does not believe that he will succeed does not want anything.

Therefore, “I want nothing” is a defense against the pain that a bad choice can bring. If you understand what blocks the teenager's desires to develop, the problem of choosing a profession will be resolved.

Reason 2. They are interested in too much

Parents of children with this problem may not understand us: the child has so many interests, but he cannot choose?

“A drama club, a photo circle, and I’m also hunting to sing…” - the life of such children is fascinating, there is no time to get bored. But there is no guarantee that interests will not change in a year, and not everyone is capable of learning all subjects in a row.

It is not easy for such children to find a life's work, but it will definitely be non-standard and very exciting. And necessarily at the junction of various directions. Finding something that unites interests is an interesting challenge in itself. If you are interested in sports and psychology - take a closer look at the profession of a sports psychologist. Strive to connect with people of different cultures and you have an inherent passion for research - consider a career in intercultural communication.

Conflicting interests create more difficult tasks. And here it is important to focus on the abilities and characteristics of thinking and character. We will have to consider many different professions, including new ones that are just emerging.

Reason 3. They do not know their abilities and characteristics

Bright talents are easy to spot. But few can boast of impressive poetry, drawings, success in sports or programming. A grades in school subjects were not a measure of ability. And then, if the child is significantly different from the parents, they are not able to adequately evaluate him.

The difficulty also lies in the fact that natural inclinations may turn out to be unmanifest only because they were not given room for development.

If there were no paints in the house, you may never know that an artist lives in your child.

It is a special pleasure to discover different abilities and characteristics. They don't need to be judged, they need to be happy. Otherwise, we form fears and self-doubt in children.

Often, in the course of consultations with a specialist, parents and children are surprised to notice how differently they react to the world, perceive information, and make decisions. And if earlier it was a stress factor, now it becomes a reason for mutual cognition.

Recognizing any abilities and differences of our child, we give him the blessing to use them and develop them.

Reason 4. They don't know much about professions

It is a paradox, but basic knowledge of professions remains at the kindergarten level for a long time. Children were taught to distinguish in pictures that this is a cook, and this is a policeman. At school, knowledge does not expand.

Try writing a list of several professions and asking your child to tell you what each is about. You will be unpleasantly surprised by the results.

Even about the professions of their parents, adolescents also do not know anything. As polls show, they will name the organization and / or profession. After all, we have no time to tell about our work, about our achievements, about how the work is organized. And children are unlikely to find out about it themselves.

And now they don’t know they come to the ninth grade, where pre-profile training appears. A wonderful idea in a couple of years has degenerated into formal pre-profile courses - six sessions that are designed to introduce students to three professions. No preliminary preparation or subsequent analysis is expected. They are chosen by teenagers more often for the company. As a result, their knowledge of professions and interest do not increase.

The Ministry of Education decided that it had done everything possible to introduce students to the world of professions, and washed its hands. Oh yes! There are also fairs and exhibitions of educational institutions. There, students hang out at the brightest pavilions that involve shows or the distribution of free souvenirs.

Well kids, are you now ready for one of the most important choices of your life?

Unfortunately, the media are also not at all concerned with creating interesting programs for introducing teenagers to professions. Although with the appearance of talented feature films, interest in the professions of charismatic heroes sharply increases. But this is a spontaneous process, it is pointless to hope for it.

What to do about it? Parents, we have no choice but to help children get acquainted with professions. It was necessary to start a long time ago, but it is better now than never.

The wider the circle of known professions, the higher the chances that teenagers will be able to find something suitable for themselves.

Although many adults also do not know how many professions there are in this world. Open professiograms, study with your children!

Reason 5. They are insecure and afraid to make choices

Even when already more or less determined, it can be painfully difficult to make the final choice. It is perceived as the border of two worlds, beyond which there is a different life, a different environment, opportunities … What if it's not right? What if reality turns out to be less attractive? And life is derailed? From such thoughts it really becomes bad.

This fatality must be helped to remove. Explain to your child that you can change your profession and acquire a new one! Therefore, let him choose an option that causes inner joy, meets interests, abilities and is useful to people.

Nobody knows how life will turn out, but this is not a reason to give up interesting choices.

You need to believe in the best, but also be realistic. How many people went to work as programmers or lawyers without the ability. And despite the fact that someone manages to live comfortably, others the same profession does not bring success.

Difficulties will arise. Necessarily! But by coping with them, we become stronger. And this is important.

By making a choice, we direct life in a certain direction. But we can change it if we want. People do this all the time.

Reason 6. They have high expectations from the profession

Children's ideas about life are formed under the influence of the movie screen. Therefore, the profession is expected to provide millions of royalties and vacations on a personal yacht, as representatives of show business and outrageous heroes of the gossip. We will not agree to anything less!

This infantile outlook on life forms a consumer society. It did its best in this respect. If the priorities of children are shifted towards a beautiful life, then they will not want to work either. For them, taking is good and giving is bad. And this imbalance in the worldview must be helped to overcome.

Giving is happiness. Without it, happiness is not given to receive.

Yes, you need to strive for heights. But for this you have to make efforts yourself. There may be periods of lack of money in life, and this is normal. First, you should learn to invest strength, energy, time. Including in the development of the profession.

Help the children build a give-and-take balance. This will help them choose a profession that will bring both joy and money. The main thing is to prioritize correctly.

As you can see, the issue of choosing a profession is not easy. Support your child during this difficult period. Take the time and attention to go through it together. Trust me, he will keep a sense of gratitude to you for this for life. And you can get closer to him, touch his future - already an adult - life.

Seek the help of specialists, if necessary, to overcome difficulties. And everything will work out!