English PDF - Ahmadiyya Gazette Canada

So What do You Want to be
When You Grow Up? (Part 1 of 2)
Dr. Ijaz A. Rauf – National Secretary Ta‘līm
Part I
General Advice
And everyone has a goal which
dominates him; vie, then, with
one another in good works.
Wherever you be, Allāh will
bring you all together. Surely,
Allāh has the power to do all
that He wills.(2:149)
Do you know where your life
is heading? Are you on track,
implementing your plan, or
waiting for someone else to tell you
which direction your career should
take next or are you just letting
opportunities and offers come your
way hoping they provide what you
truly desire in your life?
As students approach high school,
they start to set their sights on the
future. Career development, for
most people, is a lifelong process
ranging from educational, skills
development and employment
opportunities. Every process
is influenced by many factors,
including their environment,
personal aptitudes, and educational
qualifications. A major turning
point in students’ lives is the career
choice they make while in high
So What do You Want to be When You Grow Up?
school. Generally, it is viewed by
family and community as a mere
start of professional life; however,
this decision plays a major role
in establishing a career path that
opens as well as closes a multitude
of opportunities.
The interdependence of family,
school, and community culture
plays a critical role in shaping our
occupational choice. The economic
and social circumstances of the
broader community also colour
and influence our perceptions
of appropriate career choices.
It is almost impossible to reach
our goals without a
destination. As we use
a map to find our way
to a new destination,
a map for our career
is just as important.
Without an address
and directions, you
will end up lost. Some
teenagers fail because
they have no plans.
When a teen wishes to
have a specific career in
the future, he is much
likely to graduate
compared to someone
who has no plans at
all. At high school,
through interactions
with the family, school,
and community we live
in, we learn about and
explore careers and make choices
that can ultimately transform us
to useful contributing members of
the society. Parents usually wish
their children to become successful
but in many situations it is difficult
for children to become what they
really wish to be. For this reason,
parents, community leaders and
career counsellors are there to help,
of course with the help of prayers.
Many students sometimes think
that high school is too early for
them to decide their ultimate career.
They tend to forget that planning
their future during high school
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