Rev. Hyatt
Rev. Hyatt,
Let me first say how happy I am that the Dear Counsellor column was introduced.
I am a Third Form student in Kingston and I am having a serious problem. I am about to choose subjects for Fourth Form and I am a bit confused. I am not sure what career I want to enter, and my mother is insisting that I do the sciences and enter medicine.
I am not sure that is what I want, but I am not sure what career is right for me. How can I be sure?
CC, Kingston
Dear CC:
Firstly, in choosing a career, you must always seek to enter one that you're seriously interested in. Money is important but a sense of satisfaction is even more important. Therefore, your mother cannot decide what career you should enter although she can be there to provide guidance and support.
You need to look at your interests, talents and skills. Then you need to ensure that whatever career you enter will not soon become obsolete.
In choosing subjects, I would recommend that you choose widely. Instead of doing straight Science, Business or Arts, do a combination of subjects just in case later on you decide to do something else. This gives you a greater level of flexibility.
I would also suggest that you speak with your Guidance Counsellor who should be able to assist you in the decision-making process.
All the best
Counsellor
Wrongfully accused
I recently had an experience in school that made me very angry. I was in class one day, and my friend shouted out that the teacher looked sexy in her new dress. I began to laugh, and she turned and saw me and sent me to the grade supervisor. I told her that I was not the one who said it, and she asked me who did. I did not want to tell on my friend, so she told me that I would have to suffer the punishment for the person I was protecting.
I had to pick up garbage for the rest of the school day. Do you think it is right for me to be punished for something I did not do?
Calvin.
Dear Calvin:
I've always believed that the good should never suffer for the bad. However, there are times when I have changed my thought. In cases where the good decides to defend the bad, then the good becomes bad.
It is nice that you want to protect your friend. However, it is wrong if you are defending your friend when he is in the wrong. What you have done is to encourage him to continue being bad, which does not help him.
I truly hope that you have learnt your lesson. Let me ask you a question: Did your friend come forward and confess to what he did when he found out that you were being punished? If he did not, then clearly he was not willing to put you and your friendship before himself. Think about it.
Choose friends who can be true friends, which means that they would want you to tell them when they are wrong.
All the best in school
Counsellor
Please write to the counsellor with your questions at:
Dear Counsellor
C/o the Gleaner Company,
7 North Street
Kingston.
You can also fax Rev. Hyatt at 977-2216, please put the letter to his attention, or e-mail him at dearcounsellor@netscape.net
