“Working with children is both fun and gratifying. There is a lot of learning from both ends. I don’t think I would have wanted my career to be any other way. Children bring in the best in me and I try to bring the best in them. I run a non-profit organisation called Vocatio, which focuses mainly on career guidance, career education and counselling. After my graduation and masters in Psychology, I took up counselling for children. Well, let’s just say the only con of this job is that once the children become alright, which is of course the intention, they leave therapy abruptly. There are said number of sessions for a reason. I do try and explain this to people.

While working with children, I make sure I help them understand what success means to them and how they should take decisions accordingly. Career guidance is quite an underrated aspect of students’ lives. Especially, for the under-privileged students, it is a luxury which they unfortunately can’t afford. Here is where, I make sure they too have access.

Career guidance just doesn’t mean what profession the student should choose but it is also about how to handle emotions at the workplace and stay sane in this competitive world.

I come from an era where people from minority backgrounds had to deal with oppressors. Be it a woman, a differently abled person, somebody from the LGBTQ, none were spared. We had to work twice as hard to reach a certain level. Although I have reconciled with the discrimination and the struggle, I don’t want the future generations to face the same issues. My counselling includes teaching them to fight for their rights.

As an entrepreneur, you always do your best for your client. And for me, my clients are the students I counsel. Never lose sight, of what you have started. Just like APJ Abdul Kalam, I envision a beautiful future for students, who know their rights and their emotions pretty well.”

• Tasneem Saiyed, Psychologist