What do you want to be when you grow up? Part I of II
Almost everybody had been posed of this question as a child by either our teachers or parents. It’s a harmless question to the young mind, giving us insight of the child’s mind and imagination. I suppose it is here that when this question was first asked, it has a powerful impact on the child. Subconsciously, we’re formatting templates of his future.
Hypothetically, if we posit such a question to a child and he answers incoherently, say, he wants to be a gardener when he grows up; what are the chances, we would take the child seriously, or wave it off as a wonderment instead? The typical parent or adult would perhaps frown at the answer because of all the profession in the world, this child wants to be a gardener. Gardeners don’t make a lot of money do they? He would better off being a doctor, an engineer or a lawyer. Right?
Perhaps, he is the lucky one. Some parents do not give the child allowance to imagine what he wants to be when he grows up. His parents had already predetermined his future. It is here that most of us fail to realize the dangers of such preprogramming of a child’s mind. What is so wrong for a child wanting to be a gardener? It is an honest living.
To realize this, we have to stretch our own imagination and look beyond, say, Gardener. My own opinion would led me to deduce that a) the child has a love for nature specifically flora; b) the child had subconsciously projected his deeper thoughts of living in a better world; or c) it could be that he was just plainly answering the question without much thought.
Kids do not generally think the way adults do. They do not have the sense of reality surrounding them the way we as adults perceive it. No inhibitions. Their mind executes very basic and primary thoughts, untainted by negated thinking. A fun illustration would be available to those who had watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Where Master Yoda asked the little padawans of OB One’s missing planet. The answer may come out naïve but the truth behind it undeniable.
As adults, we pride ourselves as more knowledgeable than kids. That’s why we are always right and they, infinitely in the wrong. Hey, I mean if the kid’s wanting to be a Gardener, that’s no good, right? We as adults knew better so, we penalize and scrutinize the kid for wanting to be a Gardener. Engineers make good money. So shall it be and so shall it be written!
As we leave the bewildered child to his thoughts, a constant debate goes on. Moral code of ethics (parents) vs insignificant child dreams. The child will, more often than not, follow his parents’ wishes. Thus, the programming is done, a template is set but to be challenged again only when he reach adolescence. If the imprint is strong, it’ll perhaps linger till adulthood and might mess up the poor kid’s life!
Almost everybody had been posed of this question as a child by either our teachers or parents. It’s a harmless question to the young mind, giving us insight of the child’s mind and imagination. I suppose it is here that when this question was first asked, it has a powerful impact on the child. Subconsciously, we’re formatting templates of his future.
Hypothetically, if we posit such a question to a child and he answers incoherently, say, he wants to be a gardener when he grows up; what are the chances, we would take the child seriously, or wave it off as a wonderment instead? The typical parent or adult would perhaps frown at the answer because of all the profession in the world, this child wants to be a gardener. Gardeners don’t make a lot of money do they? He would better off being a doctor, an engineer or a lawyer. Right?
Perhaps, he is the lucky one. Some parents do not give the child allowance to imagine what he wants to be when he grows up. His parents had already predetermined his future. It is here that most of us fail to realize the dangers of such preprogramming of a child’s mind. What is so wrong for a child wanting to be a gardener? It is an honest living.
To realize this, we have to stretch our own imagination and look beyond, say, Gardener. My own opinion would led me to deduce that a) the child has a love for nature specifically flora; b) the child had subconsciously projected his deeper thoughts of living in a better world; or c) it could be that he was just plainly answering the question without much thought.
Kids do not generally think the way adults do. They do not have the sense of reality surrounding them the way we as adults perceive it. No inhibitions. Their mind executes very basic and primary thoughts, untainted by negated thinking. A fun illustration would be available to those who had watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Where Master Yoda asked the little padawans of OB One’s missing planet. The answer may come out naïve but the truth behind it undeniable.
As adults, we pride ourselves as more knowledgeable than kids. That’s why we are always right and they, infinitely in the wrong. Hey, I mean if the kid’s wanting to be a Gardener, that’s no good, right? We as adults knew better so, we penalize and scrutinize the kid for wanting to be a Gardener. Engineers make good money. So shall it be and so shall it be written!
As we leave the bewildered child to his thoughts, a constant debate goes on. Moral code of ethics (parents) vs insignificant child dreams. The child will, more often than not, follow his parents’ wishes. Thus, the programming is done, a template is set but to be challenged again only when he reach adolescence. If the imprint is strong, it’ll perhaps linger till adulthood and might mess up the poor kid’s life!
