Ah, matric! The end of a chapter. Some students already have a plan in place for what they want to do once they leave school and some are still weighing their options – and that is completely normal! Some find themselves wondering if a gap year would be ideal or if finding a job to relieve financial pressure would be the better option. Others wonder if they should get back to the books and get that degree they have been thinking about. And that, my friends, is the adult world. You will often find yourselves asking life changing questions and it can be pretty overwhelming at times.

If you’re still unsure about what you should do after school, here’s some advice we’ve thrown together that may help you with making a decision…

1. No journey is the same

As mentioned above, some students have always known what they wanted to do after school for years but some of us aren’t blessed with the decisive gene. Additionally, some of us are being pressured by our parents which makes the whole deciding process very difficult. A handful of parents despise the idea of taking a ‘gap year’ as they see it as a ‘waste of a year’, but there are tons of students who do it to either find themselves, determine what they really enjoy in life and use it as a space to think about their future. Your journey is different and you should be happy with the end result irrespective of what others think or say about it.

2. Ask for advice

Choosing what you want to do after school is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make – do not rush it, I repeat, do not rush it. You will be confused and you will have many questions. Many individuals feel that asking for advice is considered a sign of weakness – IT IS NOT! If you’re unsure, overwhelmed or just need some guidance, asking for advice will ease your mind as you will begin to feel a lot calmer when making a life changing decision. Furthermore, even if you’re on route to adulthood, you may still need some adult advice. Ask parents, teachers or even a counsellor at your school for some guidance and this may help you see the bigger picture a bit clearer.

3. Do what YOU want to do

Not everyone grows up in a household where they are free to do whatever they please. Some people are forced into doing things because of their parents’ ideologies or understanding of the world but, you don’t have to do what your parents want you to do, you do know that, right? I’m all for respecting your elders and listening to your parents but when making a decision about your future, you should be given the opportunity to make that decision for yourself. The ancient saying “follow you dreams” is still relevant in today’s world for a reason. You are the captain of this ship, so you should make a decision that will make you happy.

4. You can change your mind

Change is inevitable. This change may come at a cost, however, your mental health and happiness is important. You are allowed to change your mind but that should only be done once you’ve given it your all. You shouldn’t change your mind after a day of trying something out.

5. Dedication makes the dream work

Elaborating on the above point. Once you’ve made a decision, you should at least try to stick with it and not give up after a day. When making important life altering decisions, dedication is extremely important to keep that dream alive. The choices you make will affect the rest of your life. With whatever decision, choice or path you’ve chosen, commit to it, dedicate yourself to it and make a success of it.

We hope these tips helped and all the best with the new chapter of your life!