Talk about a time when you gave advice to someone

Offering guidance to someone is a huge responsibility, but there are moments when it is absolutely necessary to speak up. I’d like to share an experience from last year when I gave some crucial career advice to my younger cousin, Rohan, who was living in Mumbai.

Who you gave advice to

I gave this advice to my cousin Rohan, who had just completed his 10th-grade board exams. In India, this is a pivotal academic milestone where students are pressured to choose a stream—Science, Commerce, or Humanities—which virtually decides their future career path. Rohan was at a crossroads and extremely stressed about which direction to take.

What the advice was

My advice to him was to follow his passion for digital arts and communication rather than succumbing to parental expectations to pursue engineering. I suggested he choose the Humanities stream with computer application electives. I advised him to ignore the outdated notion that only science students succeed and to focus on building a modern creative portfolio.

Why you gave the advice

I stepped in because I could see that the academic pressure was taking a toll on his mental health. His parents, like many traditional Indian households, believed that engineering was the only secure career option. However, I knew Rohan was exceptionally creative and had a natural flair for design. Forcing him into intensive physics and chemistry coaching classes would have crushed his spirit and potential.

And how you felt about the advice

Initially, I felt quite anxious because challenging traditional family norms is never easy. However, once Rohan took a leap of faith and chose Humanities, his academic performance and mental well-being improved dramatically. Seeing him excel in design competitions made me feel incredibly relieved and proud. I realized that timely, empathetic advice can truly steer someone’s life in the right direction.