Every occupation deserves respect

Occupation is a wage-earning activity, to support one’s family or to earn for one’s livelihood. A person can have a job by becoming an employee, volunteering, or by starting a business. People have different types of occupations to develop society and build their fortune.

Human beings everywhere want respect and courtesy. They have an innate desire to feel important. The first and most important thing to understand here is that no work is big or small. In many countries, the whole society is divided between high professionals and low professionals. They have set their own ‘norms’ to label some professions superior and others inferior. Only doctors and engineers are considered as honorable, and the rest are looked down upon. A child is instructed right from his childhood, when he is even unable to understand the meaning of any profession, only to become a doctor or an engineer or some senior ranking officer.

It’s sometimes understandable too. Health is the most essential matter in our lives. Whatever is associated with this sector carries a great deal of importance. This is actually a reason why the health industry is so profitable and secure. A doctor seems to be the number one profession to increase your prestige. On the other hand, lawyers may not address such crucial issue such as health but are traditionally considered to be quite prestigious. They are people who are involved with the law and they can get you out of burdensome situations when you are in trouble. Their job is not easy and being good at it requires an amount of endeavor and study that can be a challenge. The effect they can have on people’s lives is probably what makes them still necessary for society. These occupations represent the stability of a job, a good income, a beautiful house, and the ability to provide for the family. That’s why many opt for these.

But work-life satisfaction is sometimes overlooked when it comes to finding a job. Many people often end up working just to put food on their table and keep a roof above their heads. This can result in them taking on challenging professions that others often avoid. You can’t be happy at the end of the day if you do what you don’t love. You must have heard people say, “If you don’t study, you’re going to end up as a street sweeper”, or “Why are you pursuing music or art? You’re not going to make enough to raise a family”. These people who say such things, don’t respect other jobs. They complain about dirty streets but shame the street cleaners. They say it is a tough life working as a roadside food vendor, but go out to the food stalls to enjoy ‘jhalmuri’. They say don’t pursue music, art or film but they listen to music, enjoy art, watch movies. Hypocritical, right?

We need to change our mindset. Every occupation should be considered equal and important if we want to build a better society. Starting from maids to high paid workers, everyone should be considered as equally important. Drivers, security guards or cleaners, they all work for their needs and their family. But if everyone wants to be a doctor, engineer, or lawyer, then who will do the other work? We need artists, singers, dancers, teachers and many more people to do our small jobs. So it is important for everyone to try and join the profession within which they are best trained and have necessary experience.

Therefore, each profession has its own importance and deserves mutual respect to build a peaceful and harmonious society. Thus, stop judging and start appreciating others regardless of the work they do. Understanding that every profession is equally necessary can help one to feel comfortable with the job they do. Respect for all professions should be taught at home and in schools and colleges by parents and teachers respectively. That will play a significant role in bringing positive social transformation. It will also help to create harmonious and healthy relationships among all professions. Being a high professional doesn’t make you a good human being. You should behave well and respect others and their decisions to be so. When you are good to others, you are best to yourself.

Everyone should follow their dreams if they have an opportunity to do so but you parents can disagree with what you love. When you wish to pursue your passion as a career, particularly when your passion lies outside the favored mainstream choices, your parents can become the most difficult people to convince. This is perfectly normal because parents always think about their children. In the end, they wish to see their kids do well in their lives and be financially secure too. As kids grow, it is normal for parents to guide them into fields that they think are more beneficial in the long run. It is out of love and concern that they do this, but sometimes they overlook the interests of their child. If you put yourself in your parents’ shoes, you’ll understand why they might do this. It’s simply because nothing is more important in this world to them than your future.

So, don’t worry if you can’t go after your dreams today. It’s not the end of the world. There will be always a tomorrow. The best thing about learning is that there is no such thing as an age limit, and it’s never too late to start. So don’t lose hope! As the old saying goes, “where there is a will, there’s a way!”

No matter what you, don’t disrespect others and don’t judge them. Instead, start appreciating them. Be happy in what you do and keep others happy by encouraging and appreciating them.

* Rumaiysa M Rahman is a 10th grader at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Dhaka