Dear counsellor,

I want to quit school and follow my football passion. My coach says I am a good player and I can make the most out of a football career. I feel I should quit studies and give more time to my future career. Is this a good idea?

Patrick, 19 years old

If you have exceptional football talent, and the discipline to work hard to improve your performance level, being a footballer could be ideal for you as you advocate passionate dedication to the pursuit of your dream. However, train and study at the same time. The smartest decision you can make to ensure your brilliant future football career is by finishing school.

I don’t want to crush your dreams but the penalty of not studying in the name of football can be even greater in terms of building your mental faculty, other life opportunities, self-esteem and earning academic power. So your talent will matter more with education than it will ever do without studies. The fact is that, studies have been proven to be well worth the effort at all stages of life regardless of one’s talent. If you can research, analyse, solve problems and communicate well, you can translate football talent to an ideal career with a firm educational foundation. It’s about more than the tangible benefits of football to extensive knowledge and fantastic lifestyles. Studies will equip you with skills and a wider range of competences and social networks even when your passion for football fails to take its course.

Working towards future goals is important. So whatever it is, take time to study because education can launch you into your next big dream. Regardless of the reasons why you should quit studies, there are numerous grounds that justify why you should embrace studies as this can promote your talent to even greater heights which will deeply transform you into a well integrated person and will ultimately change your experience of life.

YOU DEBATE

Alice Gatera, Senior Six vacationist:

It’s good that you are passionate about soccer, but you need to be wise and don’t let anything stand in the way with your education. Beware that all those successful football players have a great education background, and that’s their back-up in their career. Be smart and value your education as well.

Egide Cyubahiro, student:

Keep in mind the fact that there is no strong career without education. You should first finish your education because football is passion and a talent which will never go away. However, this is a time to prioritise education since it is the foundation of everything.

Maureen Tony, Senior Six vacationist:

I believe you can succeed in both your studies and soccer. There are many people who have achieved a lot in their careers and still manage to excel in their academics. Manage your time effectively and add more efforts in everything you do.

Josephine Umuranga, employee at Shokola lite:

Quitting school for football will be the worst mistake of your life. In my opinion, you would be throwing away your future. A good student can never compromise with academics. The priority should be on your studies, the rest is an additional value.