The capability of students when they select a course and college after school

Capability

Often mentioned in the students’ performance

A student’s capability is often misused in their school performance discussions. Capability should not necessarily mean “they should” and lack of capability does not necessarily mean “they should not”.

Imagine two statements:

“You were an average student in the school, and so I am not sure if you have the capability to study advance DNS research—that is quite tough and demands a lot of hard work in the college.”

or

“You have been brilliant in the school, why you are not studying AI or robotics in the college and why this love for machine design?”

Capability is a student’s strength but it should not be the only criteria to discuss or decide their career path or the stream in the college.

These capability statements often become external pressure pillars—and these become the benchmark against which the students’ career is measured. It means:

  • Students feel more pressure because everyone knows their capability
  • Meeting those standards will definitely mean a happy and progressive life, which may or may not be true
  • Feeling frustration or guilt if they do not live up to that standard
  • Withdrawal symptoms if they cannot handle that pressure

We can build their journey by a more positive framing—without setting their capability as a benchmark. So we should avoid such statements as:

“You should study science because you are capable of doing it (because you are intelligent only in science?).” or

“You should prefer medical science because this is a highly rewarding career (who know how it turns out).” or

“You should not study economics because there are very little opportunities, and you are capable of doing better.”

If we forget that students know their capability better than the parents, peers, siblings, or friends. The problem is not about their capability or seriousness about their career—it is more about how we design those discussions—the context, the timing, and the confidence in those discussions.
Student's capability is often misunderstood in their career and college selection discussions, says Steering. Photo credits Unsplash.

Let’s frame those statements for a more positive message.

“Depending on what you want to do, if science helps that then you should study science because it gives you a definite advantage.”

or

“You know, studying medicines and medical sciences is often a highly rewarding career. It needs a lot of hard work but if it interests you, you should think about it.”

or

“Studying economics might give you an interesting career path, a variety of opportunities in spite of the massive competition there. Do some analysis of possible career paths after studying masters in economics and we can discuss again.”

The students need more confidence and more positivity when parents and their loved ones talk about college, career, and the study programs. To use the capability lens does not open the right doors for these dialogues. Capability enables them to fulfil their dreams, it should not drive their aspirations.

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