SUBJECT SELECTION
Arts is also for the smart
Usha Albuquerque

Selecting a subject stream for the plus two can be tricky. You may be good at many subjects, so which ones should you choose? You may like social studies, but score higher in science.

The selection of a particular stream affects the choice of a career. The subjects you study in Classes XI and XII lay the foundation for your choice of subjects in college. If your career goal is clear, you know which subjects you should choose.

The science fixation

Stick with what you know best. Choose the subjects you are good at and what you will require for your chosen fields. Also, keep in mind the subjects you enjoy doing.

Often undue importance is given to science subjects, under the misconception that science increases job opportunities. This is not necessarily so. It is also assumed that the smartest and most intelligent students should do science. They are discouraged from selecting commerce or humanities. These subjects are reserved for the lowest achievers.

Don't be afraid of opting for the humanities subjects---history, geography, political science, philosophy, psychology, economics, languages, arts or music. They can open up avenues in fields as diverse as journalism and advertising to business studies, hotel management or the civil services. Mathematics, widely associated with the science stream, can often be taken along with humanities subjects to further widen the options.

Choices in humanities

You really do have a lot of options after taking up humanities. Let's look at some.

History, sociology and political science are good subjects to take if you are looking to join the civil services or a career in advertising or mass communication or even management.

If you love exploring the countryside and geography is your favourite subject, don't despair. There are lots you can do- in careers like mapping, cartography, town planning, research, and if combined with computer science, can lead you into the new area of geographic information systems for analyzing physical, weather and economic data for a variety of uses.

A future in the past

If you love history- many kids do- there are careers in archaeology and museology, and even anthropology, for which there is now a widening scope. Those with a background in history and some creative talent can opt for art restoration and conservation. Hundreds of museums around the country need skilled people in art who know the technique of restoring painting, sculptures and manuscripts. Another artistic field for creative young people is art management and curating art--selecting, buying and selling paintings of different artists. There has been a recent boom in art exhibitions and auctions. There also exists a large gap between demand and availability of skilled professionals in newer fields like photography, specially fashion photography and fashion modeling.

Fashion your success

Fashion and all its related fields are other avenues for those with artistic talent. From working in garment manufacturing companies producing readymade shirts and suits for the domestic or international market; to doing accessory design of bags, shoes and belts; manufacturing jewellery or footwear; there are lots of possibilities for students in this field. Beauty and hair care is another growing area which requires professional skills, not marks.

And if you love travelling, then think of all the places you've been to, the hotels you stay in, and the tickets and planning you need to do to go on a holiday. All those activities provide jobs for young people. Considered world-wide as one of the fastest growing industries, and one of India's largest sources of foreign exchange, travel and tourism covers a range of related job opportunities in areas as diverse as aviation, hoteliering and food services, transport operations, leisure management, adventure sports and handicrafts.

Channels of growth

If you like English and have good writing and speaking skills, you can look forward to a promising career in the media. This includes, journalism, for print and television, as well as video and film; public relations, event management and advertising. With so many channels opening up, and newspapers and magazines increasing, there will always be many jobs for qualified people. If you possess creative abilities too, you can plan for a career in films or advertising where you will need to think up good ideas for ads and ad films.

Moreover, there is the huge field of design, encompassing interior design, graphic design- posters, brochures, illustrations, logos, product design; exhibition and set design, packaging design, and also web and animation design. How would you like to learn to create Bugs Bunny, Snoopy, or the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park? What about window display design- dressing up a shop window?

And for sociology students, social work is an excellent option. You can help the less privileged people, and also work with government and international agencies. Psychologists can work in schools, colleges, hospitals, social welfare organizations, and in the area of human resource development in business organizations.

Today, even hobbies such as sports, the performing arts and photography if pursued with professional training can be extended to the level of a worthwhile career. And it's not only the cricketers that are 'playing' for a living. Sponsorships, scholarships, increasing prize money, contracts, endorsements, revenue from TV telecasts and awards have boosted the prospects for careers in tennis, golf, billiards, snooker, badminton, squash and even polo. So, if you are talented, you could train to become a professional sportsperson, or even take up sports management or handling a resort or a sporting complex. Adventure sports have become remunerative careers for those brave enough to explore its potential. Also, performing arts such as music, dance and drama are providing good openings for talented youngsters in theatre, radio and television.

Think of the many options you have with subjects of any stream, and next week we will examine career options for those pursuing commerce and science.