Trying to find your place in society today is immensely difficult, especially when you’re a teen trying to not only try to figure out who you are. But when you’re also trying to figure out what to do after high school, the uncertainty can be worrisome, almost as if you have to rush your oncoming future. Societal pressures can make us feel that students should know exactly what they want to do after they finish high school, when the reality is something else.
The truth is, it’s really difficult to commit to just one form of study, especially when today’s students are more open-minded than ever. Education Weekly, a reliable source for K-12 educational news, found that 72% of recent graduates surveyed agreed that they felt either moderately, slightly, or not at all prepared for figuring out those next steps after high school.
Outside factors can contribute to making this decision difficult for students. These factors can include a lack of exposure to different career paths, fear of making the wrong decision, pressure to choose too soon, and even social and parental expectations. But is it truly bad to be so uncertain about your future career? Not at all. It’s actually totally normal. Transitioning from high school to the real world is challenging, and it’s okay to embrace that. There is no right way to do things; it’s just figuring out what’s right for you and allowing yourself to be open to the new experiences that life brings.
Being forced to make career decisions too early in the teen years can even put students on a track that doesn’t really suit them, which can lead to complications such as needing to switch majors and careers later on. This can potentially require additional time and effort to get back on track, meaning that choosing too early can end up taking just as much time as if you had waited a year or so to figure out what you really wanted to do.
On the other hand, some students may think they have perfectly mapped out what they want to do for their career. Then life does the unexpected, and you have to be willing to regroup and change plans.
One alternative to making a firm choice of your future career path is to take a leap year (or years) to gain additional knowledge and skills from a full or part-time job, or even by starting your own business. Applying to a trade school, joining the military, or volunteering in the meantime while figuring life out are also options. It’s not the end if you aren’t fully sure what you want to do by the end of senior year–or even during college–and it’s okay to take your time and really make sure you’re committed to the field of study before diving into something you dislike.
Having a rough time figuring out what you want to fully commit to is normal, and you definitely aren’t alone. It’s a big decision, and it shouldn’t be narrowed down to a specific date and time when deciding on what career path you believe will fulfill you. Avoiding letting outside voices and parental expectations sway your decision is key, and it’s okay to take a little more time than others to figure out such a big decision. So don’t stress, and don’t worry. You have a whole life ahead of you.
