Bring children to Work

This topic is not a critic of child labor. Its not even about Child protection. This topic goes beyond. It concentrates on a very subtle topic -- a unique concept --> To expose children to work environment.


Dont know how many you know of this concept; so excuse me of dealing this topic at a very preliminary level. Here the story unravels.........


Come friday and there is weekend mood. I work on the 37th floor of One Bell Center, arguably the tallest building in Saint Louis. Malay, my project mate, and I are the only two guys in my section of the floor. We surely enjoy the attention from women around. :-)

Well well.. where there are women, there is always gossip and giggling. And Friday brings out even more jubiliation and gossips around. Well, to say that Americans are loud will be an understatement ! Ahh.. we are deviating from the topic.. come back..

hmm.. so a beautiful afternoon coupled with the sweet smell of weekend.. wow.. suddenly, I hear an unfamiliar voice.. a girl's voice... or i shud say a kid.. Wat !! a kid in office.. kuch bhi.. It was another busy week for me and I wanted to finish my work quick so as to enjoy the weekend. So this giggle was easily ignored. :-)

Within 5 minutes, there was a tap on my left shoulder. I took off my headphones and turned one eighty degrees on my seat. i saw a Ghost --- nah.. ghost's dead and buried in my previous post. haha

Well.. to my surprise I saw a lovely kid wearing braces standing besides her mommy -- my colleague and friend, Cheryl Gipfel.

Cheryl introduced her to me. The girlie was Cheryl's daughter of 16. After a brief talk, the duo moved ahead for further introductions.

Now, why on earth did the girl come here.. here at work !! she better be at school or playing with her friends or watching TV or anything... why at office ! it did beat me for a moment.

Then I remembered seeing a poster, among many, near the elevator which said "Bring children to work !". A subtle concept, which doesnt strike at first sight, has a bigger practical theme behind it. The concept involves exposure of child to the real world at an early stage in his life. This exposure will bring the future real work life in front of him. He will know for a particular profession involves, not in depth but at least give a feel of the environment.

This concept on proper implementation should bring following distinct benefits:
1. Get child a good feel of environment
2. Validate one's likings and assumtions of a particular area of work.
3. Help child plan for the important years of graduation, which, arguably, will shape his/her life.
4. If not help him find area of liking; child can surely trace areas of dislike ! ;-)
5. Exposure to different types of people: Child can learn limited things when confined to scope of family or friends. This experience exposes the child to a diverse group of people.

I, as a child, dreamt to become a cop. As I grew, I read of corruption and lack of money unless sought under the table. My dislike to corruption, helped me move away from that dream. Hopping from one dream to another; finally to find a profession which was hot in market. At that stage, little did I know of a life of a soldier, a cop, a lawyer, a chef, an athelete or of software engineer.

To eye the bigger picture, tell me "How many people we know stick to the profession and make a career out of what they studied?" Not many!! Here, I wouldnt like to digress into "however good/bad our education system is and is responsible for it".

For bigger things at stake -- of change in profession after spending valuable Fifteen to Sixteen years of education living it; one would see the gravity of one's exposure to the real world help him, as a child, bring dream into reality.
A kid can plan his or her life as he want. Set goals for himself at a very early age. Perhaps, he wont get an opportunity to say, "I wud have been a better chef than a lawyer." ;o)

And i'd say.. kiddo .. "Live ur Dreams !"

A simple theme, making a world of difference. isnt it!