Tag: Teenage Identity Formation

Career Confusion: Science, Commerce, Arts or “Bas jo mile”

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Why teens feel lost about subject choices, fear disappointing parents, and struggle to see value beyond “doctor, engineer, CSS.”

Choosing subjects after middle school is one of those small crossroads that feels enormous when you’re living it, both for the child and the parents. In Pakistan, that crossroad often looks like a short menu: Science (pre-med/pre-engineering), Commerce (business/accounting), Arts (humanities/social sciences), or “Bas jo mile”, take whatever seat opens up. Why does a 14- or 15-year-old face such pressure and confusion? Let’s unpack the feelings behind the choices and offer a kind, practical way forward for parents and families.

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How Childhood Trauma Shapes Adult Life and What Parents Can Do to Help

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Earlier today, I met one of my childhood friends after many years. As we laughed and reminisced about the mischievous adventures of our childhood gang, I was filled with warmth and nostalgia. Yet, amid this joy, a thought struck me that not all childhood memories bring happiness. For some, childhood is not a time of laughter and play, but of pain and fear.

A few weeks ago, during an educational camp I was conducting in the central region of Pakistan, a 19-year-old student shared his childhood experiences with me. His story reminded me how deeply early trauma can shape a person’s adult life. Childhood abuse, whether physical, sexual, or emotional, or even neglect by parents, can leave lasting scars. Children who are hurt by the very people they trust and love most often grow up feeling betrayed, wounded, and unworthy. If these emotional wounds remain unhealed, they silently seep into adulthood, affecting one’s self-image, relationships, and capacity to trust.

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The Real Measure of a Quality Life — It’s Not What You Think

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

There comes a time in life when we must pause and ask ourselves: Are we truly living the life we want, or just the one we think we should live?

Yesterday, during a classroom discussion about what it means to live a “quality life,” one of my students curiously asked, “Sir, how can we know that we are living a quality life?” Before I could respond, another student confidently answered, “It’s simple! When we get rich and can buy everything we want, that means we’re living a quality life.” A third student immediately followed up, “So, does that mean being rich and having lots of money leads to a quality life?”

Their innocent but thought-provoking exchange left me reflecting deeply. If 12- and 13-year-olds are already anxious about what defines a good life, then as adults, do we ever stop to think about the same question? Have we limited our life goals to simply earning money and living comfortably? Or is there something beyond convenience, something that gives meaning to both our living and our dying?

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Why Family Involvement Matters for Teens

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Last week, I sat down to watch The Blind Side again, the 2009 Hollywood film starring Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron. Though I’d seen it before, this time it struck me differently. Perhaps because, as a teacher and mentor working closely with teenagers, I’ve come to recognise just how fragile the teenage years can be and how much difference a caring family or even one caring adult can make.

The movie tells the true story of Michael Oher, who grew up facing poverty, neglect, and homelessness before becoming a star in the NFL. While it’s framed as a sports drama, I saw it less as a football story and more as a lesson on the importance of family involvement. As I watched Michael’s life unfold on screen, I couldn’t stop asking myself: What does family really mean for a teenager’s growth and development?

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