IMPORTANCE OF SETTING A CAREER AT A TENDER AGE

By Chaya Tembo Career setting in a young person’s life is important because it gives the young people the ability to strive hard and reach out to what they want to become in future. For a young one to be able to set a proper career one must be guided on what career can be good for them. Career guidance is important at every school because the information given is very useful in that it helps young people to be on the right track when it comes to choosing a career. Another requirement a young one needs to be able to set a proper career is a mentor. The Engineering Institution of Zambia Southern Regional President engineer William.K.Mulusa gave a speech during a career talk that was held on the 11th of July 2015 at Chrismar Hotel under the theme,’ take engineering as a career’. He said, "for you to succeed in your career in future, you need a mentor who inspires you and whom you look up to." Another essential requirement that is also needed for one to be able to set a proper career was a suggestion given by a grade 11 pupil from St Raphaels Secondary School, Saviour Siawela who suggested that if a role model such as a doctor, accountant, journalist were invited as part of career guidance they would encourage, inspire, teach and motivate them as children to take up certain professions. Apart from the requirements that are essential for one to choose a proper career the pupils also feel setting a career at a tender age is important. "I think setting a career at a tender age is important because you get to decide what you want to do in future or after your education" said a grade 11 pupil Ireen Pumulo from David Livingstone Secondary School. She further gave an example of her cousin who she said completed her grade 12 but didn't know what course of career to take because she didn't set any career when she was still at a tender age. There are many matters that affect young people like group influence which leads them to lose focus on issues such as getting more information about their career choices and being focused on their education. In most schools there are teachers that offer counselling to the young people on the issues that affect them. The Author of this article is a member of the Children’s News Agency (CNA) Livingstone Bureau, cnazambia@gmail.com