I have always seen this comparison thing going on whenever people meet. The first question cropping up will be what are your kids doing, which college they studied, where do they work, why are they not in software field, don't they have any chance of going abroad, try to get kids admitted for this course, send them to this college it will fetch good returns in future etc etc. Is software the only field on earth which gives good money or is it a must that all must study at XX college and work at ABC and go abroad. somewhere in the 80s where was this software field??? were people not earning money then or enjoying life?
Parents often fall prey to these questions and do the mistake of comparing their kids with others and enforcing decisions on them. As far as I feel,each person in unique and special and cannot be compared with another person at all. People must remember that there is always one first rank and not hundreds of first ranks. Not everyone scoring 100/100 in studies becomes successful in life. Have we ever thought that what happens to the 10th and 12th toppers whose photos are flashed in all newspapers the day after the results? Five years down the lane, I don't think all the toppers would have maintained that top position. We must always know that there is someone out there who is better than us in something or the other. At the time of the results, we see advertisements for helplines in newspapers. Many students are resorting to talking on such helplines to share their anxiety about exam results and the outcome if they do not get desired marks. These helplines are said to have prevented students from committing suicide. Parents must encourage children to take up a career of their choice and liking and support them wholeheartedly in that decision.
There was a time when Hotel Management was not considered as a good profession, students opting for it were teased as future cooks. But now, the field is doing so well and offers good career opportunities in the sea (cruise ship liners), on land (hotels) and on air (aircraft catering service) as well!!! In what way is it inferior to any other profession since it offers good salary, perks and even postings ABROAD. It is heartening to note that even today there are many takers for the IAS exams.
I wish to say that career decisions are decisions of a lifetime, ofcourse opinions from others are always welcome but the ultimate career decision must be made wholeheartedly and without external pressure.