Parents Know Best As Far As

'Parents know best as far as careers are concerned.' Before I give my point of view, let me define career as a sequence of occupations, jobs, and position engaged in or occupied throughout the lifetime of a person. Career is much more that having a job or earning a living. It is a series of roles played by a person. In a career you can feel that your abilities are being properly used, that the work is worth doing, that it is interesting. It is necessary that a person must make his or her own career choice so that one can choose what matches with their ability, their values and interests in life. However, talking of parents making career choice for their children is not totally unacceptable. Thus, I'm in the neutral stance.
First of all, my question to all who agree that children should choose their career, are you more experienced than your parents? We choose our career when we are about 17 years old. So do you think that you have explored more life than your parents? They come across hurdles and are now successful so they know how people are and have the recipe to be successful. In addition, don't you want to see them happy? They give away every joy of their life and save money for us and we can't just listen to their just a single demand.
Besides, most parents feel that they have a right to get involved because they are paying for their children's education. It is difficult to argue against this. It seems unreasonable not to allow parents to at least voice their preferences. Whether or not the children agree with them is another matter. However, parents do not have the right to force their children to do what they do not want to do. Many parents, for example, want their children to be doctors or engineers just to impress their friends and relatives. They forget that young people are capable of making wise decisions too.
On top of that, many parents also feel that they know their children better than the children know themselves. Children can be impulsive and may make wrong decisions. There are also some parents who want to control their children's lives. They feel they must have a say in every decision their children make. These parents have already made up their minds what they want their children to be, regardless of their talents and interests.
In this case, it is disastrous to choose for a child what he does not have the ability to do just because it carries a big name. For example a certain man chose that his son should be a medical doctor and paid his way into the university for his son to read Medicine, but it ended in disappointment. After some years of wasted efforts and money, the boy dropped the course for inability and lack of interest to continue. If the man had allowed his son choose a career that match his ability, value and interest, such a waste of effort, time and money would have been avoided.
However, after the father dumped him for a failure, on his own he changed to an area of his interest and ability by enrolling in an Accountancy programme. His story changed from failure to success at school and upon graduation he secured an Accounts job in one establishment and later moved into a big company. He is among the big names in Accountancy in our country. Is it not true that a big name in Accountancy like Akintola Williams, the Nigerian Renowned Chattered Accountant could have been unknown in Nigeria and the world if his parents had chosen that he study Medicine in order to hang the name doctor. It is wrong to call your child a failure in a course or direction he or she has no interest nor the ability to pursue but due to parents’ choice of a career for that child. Therefore, it is right for children to make their own career choice.

In my opinion, young people should seek the advice of their parents and teachers but at the same time not betraying their own interests and talents when choosing their careers. Some careers may appear glamorous, for example, singing or modeling, but the prospects may not be good. However, I feel, in most cases, a person has to make up his own mind after talking to a number of people, including his parents. It is wrong to totally disregard the opinions of our parents. On the other hand, it is wrong to choose a career just to please them. Parents should not try to live their lives through their children.

Parents' stand

My question to all who agree that children should choose their career, are you more experienced than your parents? We choose our career when we are in 10th or 12th. So do you think that you have explored more life than your parents? they come across hurdles and are now successful so they know how people are and have the recipe to be successful. Don't you want to see them happy? They give away every joy of their life and save money for us and we can't just listen to their just a single demand. Its a shame, don't be so selfish.

Children's stand

The moderator, panel of judges, time keeper, distinguished audience, my co- debaters, time keeper, ladies and gentlemen. My name is… I am here to propose the motion that children should make their own career choice. Let me define career as a sequence of occupations, jobs, and position engaged in or occupied throughout the lifetime of a person. Career is much more that having a job or earning a living. It is a series of roles played by a person. In a career you can feel that your abilities are being properly used, that the work is worth doing, that it is interesting. It is necessary that a person must make his or her own career choice so that one can choose what matches with their ability, their values and interests in life. Talking of parents making career choice for their children is unacceptable. It is disastrous to choose for a child what he does not have the ability to do just because it carries a big name. For example a certain man chose that his son should be a medical doctor and paid his way into the university for his son to read Medicine, but it ended in disappointment. After some years of wasted efforts and money, the boy dropped the course for inability and lack of interest to continue. If the man had allowed his son choose a career that match his ability, value and interest, such a waste of effort, time and money would have been avoided. However, after the father dumped him for a failure, on his own he changed to an area of his interest and ability by enrolling in an Accountancy programme. His story changed from failure to success at school and upon graduation he secured an Accounts job in one establishment and later moved into a big company. He is among the big names in Accountancy in our country. Is it not true that a big name in Accountancy like Akintola Williams, the Nigerian Renowned Chattered Accountant could have been unknown in Nigeria and the world if his parents had chosen that he study Medicine in order to hang the name doctor. It is wrong to call your child a failure in a course or direction he or she has no interest nor the ability to pursue but due to parents’ choice of a career for that child. Therefore, it is right for children to make their own career choice.