Having been in this field for nearly 9 years now, this May and Jun was no different from previous years…except that the number of calls from worried parents have increased this year…One reason was the CBSE exam for Maths and Science was tough this summer of 26.
The worry, Parents faced were in 3 categories- First, the child has NOT scored well in class XII to be eligible for certain entrance exams or the Child did NOT score well in the entrance exams itself to get the desired fields. In most cases, I found the actual reason was, the child had selected the subjects and careers based on their Xth marks, which in itself is a flawed, idea. Why is it so…is explained here in this blog : My Child Knows What to Pursue – Does this always hold True? – SajanSpeaks
Second Category: Few children having been guided well through assessments have not done well in exams/ class XII because they were distracted with addiction to online games/ social media, which they accept was the reason for their waterloo.
Third category. Couple of children did not perform well due to stress related issues. In this category, I found all the children extremely sensitive, and they succumbed to performance pressure during exams.
As educated parents, we need to identify the source of the issue. Many times, it could be just that we are not identifying the correct passionate career for the child and insisting on the child to take up sciences with the hope that they will improve in Class XI/XII. A timely Career Counseling would help identify the right path. Please read this blog: Subject Selection: Career Counseling Vs Stream Counseling – SajanSpeaks
Even if you have identified the right pathway, maybe we are not keeping Plan B options. Please read this blog to understand the right way to plan ahead: College Applications Conundrum – SajanSpeaks
For kids high on distractions, please get them timely help. Kindly have restrictions on usage / access to devices. Permit only when the weekly plan of study is over. Divert their need for dopamine/ excitement to physical activity, travel or Music instruments. Many a times, it is just boredom as there are no engaging conversations at home as parents are busy with their work.
The third category is of performance related stress. As parents we can identify this for sure. In case we know the child gets stressed before exams, kindly get the child counselled with a psychologist and ensure that their frame of mind is always relaxed. Even the conversations at home must be encouraging and in a safe space. Many of us in the eagerness to motivate our kids, might be indulging in negative motivation which could be counterproductive. As parents we must role model for right parenting. Career counselling if done would reveal the tendency to get stressed. We can take proactive action. Also, it helps the child to be at ease when they know that they are on the right path and they know that they can do well.
You can see the feedback from one parent who understood what might have been the issue.
Even after this if you feel the child can benefit with a drop year, do read this: Is Dropping a Year an Option for Students in Class XII? – SajanSpeaks
I am sure you all will take the required remedial proactive measures and ensure your child’s success.
The Author is a highly accomplished Career Counsellor who has counselled more than 4000 students and adults. He can be contacted through their website www.renergetics.com/careercounselling
