Why is it vital to choose a career wisely? Because earning a living gets easier when one works with passion.

Arjun Majhi, a Class VIII student of an upgraded middle school at Tangrain in Potka block of East Singhbhum, attended his life’s first career counselling session Pahal-Kal Hamara Hai at Tata Auditorium, XLRI, on Thursday. He was among 450 students from 22 government schools from the city and nearby villages at the session hosted by 16 students from elite schools of Jamshedpur who are part of the Young Leaders Fellowship Programme initiated by Tarapore School, Agrico, and mentored by XLRI.

Indo Danish Tool Room director Ashutosh Kumar, chairman of Tarapore School, Agrico, Bailey Bodhanwala and XLRI professors Madhukar Shukla and P. Venugopal, while launching the event, asked government schoolchildren to choose their careers wisely and well.

Guiding government schoolchildren were 15 resource persons from defence, fashion, teaching, management, photography, farming, engineering, among others.

All resource persons, including fashion institute director Rita Agarwal, armyman Lakhan Sharma, physics teacher Ashish Kapoor, among others, introduced themselves to the students. Then, they went to their allotted rooms to speak to students on a one-on-one basis.

Sharma, a clerk with the Indian Army, said the profession’s dignity attracted him most. “You have to know your personality and passion. For me, the army was my best fit. I remember when I got selected to Indian Army, my mother told me that she’d become the mother of the whole country, thanks to me.”

Arjun, who decided to join the army, said, “I learnt how to prepare myself academically and physically.”

Jayant Rath, a Class IX student from Birsa Memorial High School, Sarjamda, decided to become a diploma engineer. “I have a knack for science. But I also don’t want to put too much economic pressure on my parents for my studies. I learnt here that diplomas are more affordable.”

On how the career fair helped him, he said, “Where I come from, people know only about BA, BCom and BSc.”

Agreed Himpriya, a Class X student of Gulmohur High School and among the 16 fellows. “The focus of our fellowship is rural education. Government schoolkids don’t know about career options at all. That’s why this career fair was needed.”