I’m a 22 years old male, student of Dentistry, through out my dental education, I’ve achieved distinctions and positions and recently scored 3rd position in Karachi University in my 3rd year of Dentistry. Though many people suggest that I should do specilization in some clinical subject as they think that I can do, but my attitude is not towards that side , neither do I intend to do clinic, nor my clinical work is appreciated by anyone, neither patients, nor doctors. When I was in 3rd year, I met with one teacher, we became very close friends, he always used to say that never ever waste the talent and if given an opportunity, try to do Ph.D in dental subject. He always used to say that what I (he) couldn’t do, I should do. I hold his dream as he wanted to see me.

Now problem is that in Pakistan, there’s very little understanding in people for research work and this especially goes for my father who doesn’t like me doing Ph.D. But I really want to complete my M.phil and Ph.D program and not spend life like other doctors all the time in clinic treating patients. I’m not very good at expressing my opinion, I don’t know how to convince my dad since he says that what will happen of his clinic, boys shouldn’t go to research and theoratical side. In Pakistan, there’s not even a single M.phil or Ph.D in the subject in which I want to continue my higher education.

And my interest and concentration day by day is getting wasted, I can’t seem to decide that where should I go? Shall I pursue what I want? Or let parents decide what they want from me as the decisions taken by me in past have often proven wrong, and I fear taking decisions on my own thinking that I may fail again.

Please help me.

Thank you very much.