CAREER GUIDANCE AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS

 In the Monitor of 11th June 2024 there is a story of a student died over subject combination row(page 3).As a person interested in youth mentorship I picked interest in reading the entire story to detect its full implication on the youth. The full details relate to the fact that the student was "forced by her parents to offer a subject combination against her wish. In the end she hang herself and lost her life. From a human capital development perspective this is loss of potential.

Over 70% of Ugandans are below the age of 30 years .The youthful stage is characterized by vulnerability and that is why youth mentorship is very important. Each person is unique and has to be guided and not forced  to realize their full potential. Each person is unique and valuable and has to be enabled to realize and maximize their potential. It should be noted that success is a journey that is full of challenges and each person reacts to them differently. If a student can lose his or her life due to studies then serious attention should begiven to career guidance. Career guidance can not be left to people who are not professionals because it covers a person's destiny. There are many youths whose destinies have been lost due to words such as "you will never amount to anything and you are not good enough". The mind captures negative words very fast and they create the future of a youth.

Therefore it is critical that students are given life skills development and guided to discover their potential. Thomas Edison was branded a failure but he went on to invent the light bulb. Most of the entrepreneurs that have successful businesses in Kampala never reached university but are employing graduates. This is not to imply that education is not important .It is supposed to be complimented with life skills and career guidance. A student should be developed holistically and not trained to only focus on academics as a sign of "success". In his book After University What Next, Ambrose Mukiibi notes that Music Dance and Drama was a despised course but today musicians are some of the highest paid personalities. This is the same case in Hollywood in the United States.

HOW TO ENABLE STUDENSTS TO DISCOVER THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

1.It starts with a deep relationship with God

2.Parents and schools should invest in career guidance

3.Parents should be trained in career guidance

4,Talent discovery

5,Students should focus on service and not the pursuit of quick money

6.Avoid bad groups 

7. Students should be humble enough to listen to advice

8.Managing emotions is key 

9.Develop a clear purpose for your life

10. Have a positive attitude towards life

It is unfortunate to lose a young soul in such circumstances. This is a pointer to the fact that career guidance should be given adequate attention in a nation where majority of the population is young.

Phillip Kiryowa

Finance and Leadership Coach

+256752615916

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