Dear parents: A first degree choice is not a life sentence.

n my 22 years of career guiding & counselling, I see this happen very often.....

Parents walk into my office with their child, put the mark sheet on my desk, and everyone looks stressed. The student has good marks, but they are terrified that one wrong subject choice will ruin their life.

I always tell parents the same thing: Please do not treat a career choice like an exam.
There is no single correct answer for your child's future. They do not need to plan the next 40 years today. They only need to pick a good, sensible direction for their next step. That choice should be about who they are as a person, not just the marks on their paper.

Just because a child gets good marks in a subject does not mean they want to do it forever. Marks show what they can do today, but real happiness comes from finding the right fit.

When parents realise that a first degree is not a trap for life, you can feel the relief in the room. The fear goes, and good planning starts.

If your child is worried about their future right now, do not worry too much. They do not need to figure out everything today. They just need a clear direction to start.

Parents: What is the biggest source of career worry for your child right now?