Devi Kar Principal, Modern High School for Girls’, Calcutta

Q:My daughter is a student of Class XII (science). She is very good in her studies and wants to join NASA. We live in Tripura and my husband runs a stationery store. We do not have the financial means to support her dreams. We have tried to make her understand but she has stopped talking with us. She thinks that we are rustic people and and cannot think big. What should we do?

Name Withheld

A:Frankly, I have not quite fathomed why your daughter should stop talking to you. What does she suggest you do to send her to NASA? Is she expecting you to raise funds for her to take lessons for becoming urbane and sophisticated? She should be thoroughly ashamed of her behaviour.

By all means she can continue to ?think big? but you should help her to realise that the onus is on herself to find constructive and resourceful ways to fulfil her dreams.

Q:I am a student of Class XII science (CBSE board). I know that I will not be able to continue with science after Class XII, yet I am not sure which stream to pursue at the graduation level. Please advise.

Name Withheld

A:There are many students who switch over from the science stream after leaving school. If you have not identified a discipline you would like to pursue, it would be a good idea to talk it over with your teachers or with a career guidance expert. They might recommend that you take an aptitude/career identification test.

But it is important for you to take your present course of studies seriously, as a good educational foundation is imperative regardless of what you choose to do in future.

Uma Dasgupta Senior academician & ex-professor of ISI, Calcutta

Q:I am 18 years old and I passed my Plus Two with only 54 per cent marks. I sat for various engineering entrance exams but failed to qualify. I come from a poor family so I want to enrol for a course that will guarantee a good job. Please advise.

S. Banik

A:You may think of enrolling in a course in computer applications or in mass communication, both of which offer good job prospects, provided you do well. When opting for a computer applications course, do ensure that you take one of the better courses in the more established institutes for computer learning such as the CMC, NIIT, or Brainware.