Privilege: Curse or a Boon?

One striking difference between my experience and the experience of young people in Bagar (I'm not informed enough to generalize about all of India) is that I grew up thinking that I should choose a profession that I'm passionate about. My high school guidance counselor had us take career assessment tests so that we would be aware of our skills and strengths and would be able to choose a career accordingly. I don't remember what my assessment results were.

The kids I work with are coming from a very different place. For one thing, their idea of career options is extremely limited. Second, they tend to gravitate towards options in which other people in their community (their role models) have found success. Therefore, if one person becomes a chartered accountant (CA), the other young people in the neighborhood will strive for the same.

One colleague posed the question, "is choosing your profession based on what you are passionate about a privilege?" As much as we cringed, the majority of the people involved in the conversation - myself included - immediately agreed.

Money isn't the only thing that affords this privilege, however. One thing I've learned is that, aside from money, the most significant difference between me and the Amit Katewas or Umesh Tailors of the world is the fact that I have a strong support network that is going to question any decision I consider and support any decision I make.

But even with this privilege, will I find what I'm passionate about? Or will I jump from job to job, becoming a spokesperson for modern time's confused generation? I don't know. Are unrealistic or unreachable expectations side effects of "privilege"?

I came across the following article from the NY Times, that explores how students from top American schools pick their first jobs. It attempts to challenge the notion that privilege permits the soul-searching required to land that "perfect" job. But, in reality, financial restrictions that students from rural India face are on a completely different plane than the social restrictions that the "privileged" need to consider.

As usual, lots of rambling and no conclusion. Good night.