Now that you’re entering post-secondary school, it’s time to grow up and make those big decisions you’ve been dreading. Sorting out your entire life at 18-years-old seems tough. Unfortunately, no one else can make these choices for you.
You’re becoming responsible, which means it’s time to start thinking about the future. YOUR future. And that’s something to be excited about!
What are you going to major in?
Firstly, it’s important to consider your future when you’re making this decision. What industry are you hoping to enter? Do you have a specific job in mind? Are you passionate about the subject? If you’re not sure about jobs, then find something you enjoy learning and pursue it. Research opportunities while you’re in school. You may be pleasantly surprised by the jobs available!
Secondly, you’re not stuck with whatever subject you choose to major in. Two years later you may decide that the program isn’t right for you. If that happens, you can always arrange a meeting with a school representative and discuss options. You may be surprised to learn that some of your credits transfer!
Where will you work?
And how long will it take you to land your dream job? Yes, this question is a two-parter because it’s important to consider your end goals and the steps needed to achieve them. You’re not likely to land the career you’ve been dreaming about immediately after school, but you can determine the best path in order to get there.
What sort of friends are you going to make?
It’s okay to befriend a ton of people in your first year, but as the years go on you determine who you want to remain close with. Generally, the sort of people you keep around will end up influencing you. So surround yourself with friends you can count on. Whether you agree with this or not, your friends become a reflection of you. Therefore, how they interact with others is associated with you too.
Should you study abroad?
The topic of travel is big for many students and there are tons of pros and cons associated with studying abroad. If you’re seriously considering this option, it’s important to do your research. Make sure that this move is the right one for you.
If you decide not to study abroad, be prepared to see photos of people who are. Be warned, FOMO is real and you will feel as though you missed an opportunity. However, this decision is based around you, your financial situation, the subject you’re studying, and what your goals are. So, don’t let these decisions get you down too much.
Should you take the summer off?
You could stay home and do nothing—relax for once. Maybe you’ll get an internship somewhere and start learning the ropes for your future career. Perhaps you’ll pursue a part-time job to earn money for next year. Or you’ll invest in traveling for a few months to explore the world while you’re still young. Whatever you decide to do will be worth the summer break!
Will you pursue postgraduate studies?
This question seems to be the hardest one to answer the closer you are to graduating. Most of us aren’t ready to leave school. We’ve just mastered student life when suddenly we have to figure out how to act like a proper adult, fast. Some people choose to stay in school because it’s comfortable. However, pursuing your masters or a postgrad course requires money and time. It’s a choice you make to better your future. These decisions can have a heavy impact on what you do.
When you’re finally ready to leave school behind, it may be a sad experience because you’re leaving behind a lifestyle of seeing your friends every day, dealing with less responsibility, ordering plenty of take-out, and going out every weekend. On the bright side, this leaves room for bigger and better things. So, if you’re dealing with the postgrad blues, here are some ways to get over it.
Every student makes these decisions at some point. There’s no right or wrong answer to them. It’s all about what YOU want out of life, where you see yourself going and how you want to get there.
Make the best decisions for you and they will be the right ones!
