Lofty Ambition

Dixya Poudel

In nations throughout the world, young students are encouraged to excel at their academics so that their future can be secured. However, growing up many internalise the thinking that material gains matter greatly which is why they seek lofty ambitions only to discover that their aspirations aren’t gratifying enough once accomplished. As such, while there are those who get to choose their career, the rest find that their careers choose them. A science student may go on to choose arts and humanities. Likewise, a lawyer may turn into a musician in the pursuit of passion.

Then there are those who remain in a career that may not be their dream career but that pays the bills, keeps the family happy and maintains a certain level of respect in the society. 

Ambitions are what drive us to study conscientiously, ask for a raise at work, participate in skill trainings, learn new subjects as well as extend our professional networks.

Ambition is what keeps us up at night and what leads us to daydream a better future while envying those who are already at the heights of their profession. Yet, ambitions come at a cost. There are instances of people who were so blindly ambitious that they forgot to be grounded. 

Often we see it in celebrities, politicians and public figures, who choose ambition above all else only to fall from grace. Thus, the young students should be taught to seek and pursue a career that aligns with their true nature and intrinsic consciences. But most often that doesn’t happen. 

The youth instead take on careers that offer glamour, money, and security instead of following their true passion. This could eventually lead to discontent in the long term. 

It has thus become important for educational institutes to impart an education that fosters a sense of self-actualisation and a direction towards versatility with a focus on personal, interpersonal, psychological, social, and even spiritual growth. Both independence and team work are to be encouraged, but the allure of prizes and rewards shouldn’t eclipse the overall performance. Otherwise, students will grow up to be one-track minded when it comes to building their resume. 

If schools instead focused on attributes that centre around character building, leadership skills, critical thinking, innovation, and spiritual practices like meditation and mindfulness, students would excel at their own pace and time. 

In addition, students ought to be taught the importance of being creative and thinking out of the box. Years on, as they join the workforce, they may find such teachings and guidance quite advantageous when it comes to standing out from the crowd and acing at work. The right kind of role model is equally important as well. 

Further, what we aim to be at our twenties can be different from what we aim to be in our thirties. Thus, role models may differ according to our age, time and place but they should be the right kinds, ones who encourage us to excel, prosper and thrive. In the pursuit of excellence, however, we shouldn’t forget our roots. 

When paired with integrity, ambitions become empowering instead of turning into avarice. And leveraging our dream career isn’t difficult if we put our mind into it. Right and ethical choices, hard work, grit, and perseverance will certainly propel us forward.