Degrees Without Direction

Thousands of Kashmiri students graduate each year, but with no jobs, no guidance, and little mental health support, they are left searching for a future that seems to be missing.

- Uzma Qadir Mir

Each year, thousands of students across Kashmir graduate, hoping for a fresh start.

After years of lectures, exams, and assignments, the degree finally comes. But instead of feeling joy, many of us feel stuck.

The question isn’t just about getting a job, it’s about not knowing where to go next.

Students in Kashmir often finish their degrees without any real-world experience. There are no internships, no campus placements, no professional mentors. We are called “freshers,” but no one wants to hire freshers.

And when we ask, “How do we gain experience?” the answer is usually a shrug. There was never a door open in the first place.

One day, after class, someone in my group asked, “What’s next for you?” The room fell silent. Then someone whispered, “I feel like a burden at home.” Another said, “I don’t know where to even start.” Heads dropped. Eyes filled. That day, I realized this is bigger than just career confusion. It’s a silent mental health crisis.