Dear Aunt Silvia,

I am called Chiku, 58 years of age. My story is brief. We have four children, aged 25, 23, 21, and 20, whom we struggle to care for. Our first son is studying mechanical Engineering, a highly competitive and expensive course, indeed, and we have been struggling financially to ensure he graduates as an engineer. He only has just two years left before he graduates. In the meantime, he started a business with his friend, which, so far, is showing promising signs of success. One day, he shocked my wife and me with a decision to stop his studies and concentrate fully on business. We have tried several times to convince him first to complete his engineering and obtain the certificate before venturing into any other sectors, but he has been adamant. Recently, we learnt he might secure a contract with his business, a fact which is pushing him strongly towards going fully into business. I am confused. Please, I need your advice.

Yours,

Chiku (Lilongwe, Malawi)

Dear Chiku,

I feel genuinely sad after reading your email. I can understand your frustration, especially considering how much your wife and you may have spent training your son. It becomes even more worrisome knowing that your son wants to abandon his studies when he is almost graduating. It is very sad indeed.

However, your mail did not mention whether your son has good grades. Is he going into the business out of frustration with the engineering course? Out of poor grades? Or is it all about financial inducement from the company? Could he see himself as a better businessman than an engineer? These are some of the questions begging for an answer. You and your wife should first sit down with your son to understand his perspective and the main reason behind his decision. It wouldn't hurt if you got back to me afterwards with his reason.

Regardless, the adage "a bird in hand is worth millions in the bush" makes much sense if you relate it to your son's situation and predicament. I would insist that your son first obtains his engineering degree before dabbling in and gambling on anything else, including the proposed business venture. Please make it clear that you are not stopping him from trying his luck in business; he only needs to get his degree first, which is insurance against any misfortune in the business. Yes, everything might look rosy today with the business, and with his determination and your support, he could very well succeed. But that is never a guarantee.

Most importantly, even if he decides to venture into business after obtaining his engineering degree and - let's hope not - if things do not work out well with the business, he can easily dust off his certificate and look for a job as an engineer. On the other hand, if he enters business today without first graduating as an engineer and things don't work out well, he will have nothing, no certificate to fall back on. That might be the beginning of his nemesis. Let us hope it would not come to that. Good luck.  

Yours,

Aunt Silvia