Career choice: Queen’s College Principal advises students against bowing to pressure

The Principal of Queen’s College Lagos, Dr Tokunbo Yakubu-Oyinloye has urged students not to bow to pressure from peers or family in choosing their preferred careers.

The principal gave the advice during a career talk for the Junior Seconday School (JSS 3) students of the institution on Saturday in Lagos.

According to her, choosing careers is an aspect that should not be taken on face value, but rather, with caution, focus and determination in a bid to guarantee better future.

Yakubu-Oyinloye added that no career was inferior to the other, hence students must strive to be focused, examine and discover their strengths and weaknesses before making a choice.

“Today, we are having a Career Talk, for all our JSS 3 students. You know, by Monday, they will be through with their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and therefore, the need for the programme.

“It may not turn out well if students allow themselves to bow to pressure from peers or family, when it comes to choosing careers.

“It could be misleading and in the end, there may be not fulfillment.

“Very soon, they will be transiting to the Senior Secondary arm of their education when they will have to choose their subjects and subsequently, branch out to various sections, such as Science, Science and Technology, Commercial, Arts and others”.

Accorsing to her, the aim of the career talk, therefore, becomes very necessary as it will help guide the students make informed choices.

“They are expected to know what career is all about and how to decide on which one suits them most.

“They will also know the benefits of such careers, the harzards, job process, as well as know who they truly are.

“We do not want them make choices on this without requisite information,” she said.

The principal noted that students must endeavour to consider factors such as aptitude, ensure they align, learn, anticipate, seek challenges, be able to interpret and decide, before going for any career choice.

According to her, they must also show strength of character, interest, connect, engage and strive to succeed and above all have the fear of God.

Yakubu-Oyinloye added that one of the most critical factors to consider by students before making career choices too, has to do with issues relating to their courses, availability cost and the duration.

According to her, job prospects, that is the salary, opportunities for promotion and advancement, as well as fringe benefits, work environment, hazards, are also critical.

“That is why we are emphasising that the students must know who they truly are before choosing careers.

“While choosing their subjects at the Senior Secondary section, they must endeavour to choose subjects that will help them get into careers that suit them as individuals and not just because others are choosing it.

“The Vice Principal 3 of QC, Mrs Catherine Ayoko, went all the way to get professionals from various fields, such as Medicine, Law, Journalism, Teaching, Engineering, Banking, Accounting and Pharmacy, to come and speak to the students, so that they can make informed career choices.

“They also ask questions that will help clear whatever doubts they have concerning these careers and then, they form better opinions.

“It is expected that when they get home after their examination, they will be able to engage their parents constructively and defend their choices,” she stated.

Mr Boluwatife Adeyanju, an Engineer with Trident Oil and Gas, told the students that the future was in their hands, when it comes to making career choices.

According to him, engineering is a career with various branches and benefits and is open to any individual that is determined to make the choice, irrespective of gender.

Adeyanju noted that engineers were one of the most in demand and best paid professionals in the world, with their females, well respected.

“Today, many females are into the engineering profession and before getting to that level, that is, while in school, they sought counseling, in the area of course combination and how to excel in these courses.

“They asked questions; they were focused, determined and refused to bow to intimidation from any quarters.

“You know before now, the public used to see the female engineers differently, when it comes to male dominated professions.

“But not anymore, because times have changed.

“There is hardly any profession where you don’t find females who even tend to do it better,” he said.