CHOOSING A CAREER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 52, 29 August 1925, Page 16

CHOOSING A CAREER

A DOCTOR'S ADVICE TO PARENTS.

Dr. W. A. Potts, M.A., in a lecture at Birmingham, which is reported in the " Lancet," had some straight remarks to make to parents. Amongst other things he. said:— " We ought to do all we can to mako early marriage possible. . The father should help his son to marry early, and not present the pitiable spectacle of amanager past his best, still directing the business, which is going down hill, while I the son, who could do more effective I work, has to remain a subordinate, and year after year tell his girl that father still hangs on, and so makes marriage for them impossible. In this connection the choice of a business or profession is j most important. Parents often say there lis.no definite taste; this frequently ! means that the boy has a call to some j work such as a minister, or farmer, an ! actor, or a soldici", which the parents I either despiso as a calling or regard '• as too unrcmuijerative for their wonderful offspring. " Sometimes there does seem to be no actual wish ; then it may be wisest to adopt the father's profession or business, because the chances are that some abil- ! ity for that will bo inherited. Even if nothing special appeals a start must always be made; the policy of waiting Ito see what turns up is bad. If by any chance the boy or girl starts on the wrong career it will then be easier for them to see the real ca-11. "If the life's work does not satisfy it must either be changed or some hobby of value made an important item in the life. There is now more than one way of testing aptitude for business or profession ; in difficult eases these might be employed. I would suggest to you that the idea to put befqre your children, ia that life is a. great and glorious adventure, .if we regard it as that, and' face our • problems aurl think them out, and also get all tlio understanding wo can, then, though passing .through life may involve hardships and many difficulties, yet the. goal at which wo aim is worth "all the toil and daugei-3."