How Am I Supposed to Figure Out What to Do for a Career?

Pro tip: Ask your teachers!

I've always been super confused about who I wanted to be, or what I wanted to do later in life.

Now that I'm in Year 12, it's even more important to figure out these things.

I've reached a point in my high school career where teachers are legitimately asking for my uni preferences, and I’ve found that, among my peers, people either have 20 preferences or zero.

Whether you’re trying to reduce your 20 prefences to six, or just getting started on figuring out what you want to do from scratch, it’s important to remember you don’t have to do it all alone.

I've asked my parents for help and, obviously, they just recommend Medicine. But, there are so many other options out there that I hadn't even considered until I casually asked my teachers what they thought. Surprisingly enough, they had come up with a couple of options that I found interesting.

Even if you're not close with your teachers, they are still a great source of help, as they know how you work and your academic abilities. My teachers helped me realise it's not just about deciding what I want to be; rather, it’s about deciding what I might find interesting to study over the next four years.

For instance. if you think you want to be a doctor but you don't want to sit through hundreds of medical lectures, maybe that's not the right career path for you.

I told my teachers about my personal hobbies and passions (like talking to other people and maths). They then came up with a few options I could undertake after high school. From there, we outlined some career paths.

Remember: The degree or certificate you choose doesn't simply land you in one profession; they open up many different career paths you can take.

Of course, I only found this out after talking to my teachers, and people who didn’t have a bias towards the Medical or Law professions (like many well-meaning parents).

Before settling on a specific career, be sure to think about the path you want to take over the next few years, and be open to the options that may come from it, rather than settling on a definite outcome.

Congratulations to Michelle for winning this week's writing challenge: How Am I Supposed to Figure Out What to Do for a Career? Michelle wins a $50 Westfield gift card for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!

Photo: iStock.com/caracterdesign