What Did That Governor Read?

By Dr jalarth Uche Opara

Some days ago, I was with a group of parents discussing the career paths of their children. From the conversation, it was clear that many parents would prefer their children to take the path of science rather than the arts.

The reasoning is understandable: science, by current societal calibration, appears to offer a wider range of opportunities.

Courses such as Medicine, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and other technology-related disciplines have become the seemingly juicy courses that provide an almost automatic lifeline to professional success.

I have no problem with that. Neither do I have empirical facts to completely upturn their standpoint. My concern, however, is the perception that a particular course of study is a guaranteed passport to success.
Life and destiny are not mathematical equations that produce a universal answer simply because certain principles have been followed.

There is much more to life than societal perception, market trends and the popularity of a particular profession.
We have seen people study supposedly “less lucrative” courses and climb remarkably high on the ladder of success, while others who studied the most sought-after courses struggle to make a decent living.

So, what did that governor who finds it difficult to pronounce a budget figure read? What course did that president with a controversial and, to many, opaque academic history study?

The questions are not meant to ridicule education. Far from it. Education matters enormously. But education is a tool; it is not destiny.

It beats me silly how some people, despite what many would consider shambolic academic records, have nevertheless risen to the highest political offices in the land. Meanwhile, there are brilliant graduates, decorated with first-class degrees and impressive professional qualifications, who are still struggling to find their footing.

This is not an argument against studying Medicine, Engineering, AI, Cybersecurity or any other emerging discipline. By all means, let our children pursue excellence in fields where their talents and interests lie.

But let us be careful not to turn trends into prophecies.
Your child may study Medicine and become a celebrated doctor. Another may study History and become a distinguished historian, diplomat or administrator. Someone may read English, Philosophy, Theology, Fine Arts or even Igbo and become remarkably successful in a way nobody anticipated.

The question should not merely be, “Which course is trending?”
It should also be, “What has God deposited in this child?”Parents must guide their children, expose them to opportunities and help them make informed choices. But we should not allow the prevailing economic fashion to become the compass for every child’s destiny.

Life is more about destiny than trends.
What looks like an ordinary course in the eyes of society may be an extraordinary pathway in God’s plan.
So, instead of forcing every child into the courses the world currently celebrates, let us discern, encourage, pray and allow God to lead.

It could be Medicine.
It could be Engineering.
It could be AI.
It could be Cybersecurity.
It could even be Igbo, religious studies, Islamic studies etc
If it is the path God has ordained and the child diligently walks it, success does not become a matter of societal prediction.
Destiny has its own mathematics. God’s mathematics does not always follow the world’s formula.

Allow your children to follow their passion and destiny path. Don’t choke them with your own vision and predilection. Your desires and cravings may be at polarity with their destiny path.

Jarlath Uche Opara
jarlathuche@gmail.com