Que Sera Sera

One of the frequent questions that teachers love to ask in school was: 'What would you like to be when you grow up?' Funny... how they never fail to ask us this question especially in the beginning and at the end of school year. Year after year and after year.

And the funny thing is that they ask but they do not really care what we answer as long as it stays in the norm. It's ok to want to be a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, a prime minister or a businessman. A teacher, while not up to the same salary scale as the others, is still a very respectable job as you will guide the younger generation towards the better of the nation. And there's always the extra benefits for those working for the government: discounts when buying houses, pensions, bonuses, easier to get loans etc..etc.

Just mention that you wish to be a factory worker, a hotelier or even a nurse, and you'll see the surprised look on teacher's face. A factory worker is often looked down as it has always been publicized as a laborer's job. The same goes as working in a hotel (just the word 'hotel' brings all the worst situations possible into an elder's mind). Why be a nurse (on whose shoulders fell the bulk of the workload) when you can try to go further to be a doctor?

Me and my best friend used to play a game of searching the dictionary for names of good sounding careers and see who can impress teacher and the whole class as well. :) We came out with 'engineer', 'politician', 'member of the Parliment' and 'astronaut'. It was just word games, as we were kids who just had no real idea yet of what to be. Usually, we get away with it with the teacher smiling and nodding her head. But once in a while, teacher would surprised us by asking us to describe about the job that we mention. And of course, gaffes would happen when we did not read the meaning of the job that we mention such as 'prosxxxxxx' and 'smuggler' which entitles you to a visit to the 'counseling office'.

Nowadays, I understood, it's just a case of different mind sets coming from different generations. In their mind, the word hotel rhymes with 'brothel', so which parent or teacher would proudly boast to their friend of the child's profession?

Now, when it comes to our turn to hear a child's ambition, just be ready to listen with an open mind. A boy who wanted to be a hairdresser? Why not? Just look at Dato' Jimmy Choo, he is a shoemaker. But he's making shoes for the Queen of England and for the rich and famous! That is an accomplishment. Datuk Lat, the Malaysian cartoonists, is known for his work worldwide.

Listen to the reason why a child would choose a profession that is different from the rest before worrying. It might be just trying to copy friends or it might be something that he/she really wants. Sit down, google on the details, see what does the job requires and have a discusssion with him/her. It's a whole different ball game out there now.

Que Sera Sera. Whatever you want to be, my child, just do your very best and enjoy the profession that you chose.