Life skills for exciting career

Ranjan K Baruah *

We have seen a challenging period due to COVID 19. As there is an end to everything, COVID 19 pandemic will not make much negative impact in near future once medicine or vaccine is available.

But the fact is that it has already impacted all of us. As schools are close and there are many challenges in learning in spite of having online classes. When we talk about our careers and future, we have to talk about skills too.

The new education Policy is focusing more on 21st century skills than mere marks or qualification. One of the most important skills needed to cope up in this kind of situation and to make our vibrant career is none other than like skills.

World Health Organisation defines ‘Life Skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enables individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life.’

There is no doubt that this empowers adolescents to make informed decision in their life. Many times our students are confused when it comes to selection of careers or courses. Confusing starts after passing senior secondary and also after completing graduation.

Some of the students prefer to join professional courses, medical, technical line after senior secondary. One of the combined skills which might help students to choose career may be through life skills. Life skills help one to be confident which is lacking amongst the young people of north eastern region.

There are ten core life skills which are as follows:
- Self Awareness
- Effective Communication
- Interpersonal Relationship
- Empathy
- Creative Thinking
- Critical Thinking
- Decision Making
- Problem Solving
- Coping with Stress
- Coping with Emotions

These life skills are based on social, thinking and social skills. Core life skills together can help an individual to become empowered and confident. When it comes to career perspectives self awareness helps one to know his or her strength and weaknesses.

Knowing strengths and weaknesses are important when we choose our careers. When an individual is aware of the positive points then that helps in building self esteem and self confidence. If we can identify our weaknesses then with planning and our action and hard work we can turn them into strengths.

Effective communication is one of the best factors for becoming successful and choosing careers. Effective communication is the ability to express verbally or non-verbally.

Critical and creative thinking helps one to look into any issue in a broad way.

Creativity is one of the requisite for successful career and as it is part of life skills it can be used by students in their life to become successful. Problem solving skills are needed as we might be in problem and confusing when we are selecting our careers.

Decision making helps us in taking right and appropriate decision. Coping with stress and emotions are important as young age is filling with emotion and there might be stress too. Problem in family leads to stress in one’s life and it is important to learn how to cope up with stress with our own capacity through life skills.

Empathy is the ability to be sensitive to another person’s situation, to understand his/her concerns, worries, fears and needs and how they feel.

Interpersonal relationship is the ability to establish positive relationship which helps us to relate in positive ways with the people we interact with. It helps in making friendly relationship, which can be of great importance to our social well being.

There might be peer pressure apart from academic pressure from seniors and most importantly parents. These are important for achieving success in life and it also helps in the society by promoting positive spirit in direct or indirect ways.

A good career does not mean just getting a mere job or earning money and making resources. It is a continuous process where we keep on learning and move on. Innovation and creativity shall bring new hopes and aspirants are motivated and confident to bring positive change in the society.