Quote of the Week

“You’ve always had the power, my dear. You’ve had it all along."

-Glinda, the Good Witch, Wizard of Oz

Saturday, November 23, 2019

The Next Step in Life


Hey guys. Teju here. This is my first post after beginning college. This is also the first post from our blog that is quite personal but I'm sure that's a good thing because some situations are best told when related to. Our topic for the week is college decisions.


It's the end of November, syllabus are wrapping up in schools and this is around the time 12th graders apart from their board preps have to think parallelly about the big question -
"what's next".

College.
I'm sure you felt a shiver down your spine if you read that being a senior in school. Yes, it is indeed a very stressful period not only for you but also for your family. The pressure is kicked up a notch if you're a kid with an Indian heritage, thanks to extended family or even the milkman and mailman. Being able to answer the question "what next" becomes a daily routine. Some know exactly what they're going to do, and some (like me) are absolutely lost. Now I'm here to tell you, that's ok! I don't want to stuff you with facts and data but it is true that majority of school graduates are confused about what to do and where to go.
Living in India, I understand that schools might not provide the best support and guidance on college decisions. But it's something you need to do for yourself. 

1.  Ask yourself questions and research 



Start by asking yourself 
                                                   1. what you like,
                                                              2. what you don't like,
                                                           3. what you're good at, and 
                                                           4. what you're not so good at.
 Make a list. Once you're done with that, start researching. Spend sometime everyday looking up at different courses. Do it with a clear mind because you might find something about some courses that you never knew before.

2Subjects chosen in school




What you take in school doesn't necessarily have to be the stream you choose to take in college. This was my first mind block. Having chosen bio-math for my 11th and 12th, most people thought that I'd end up doing medicine or engineering. Bottom line, anything with science. I'm now doing my Bachelors of design in interior architecture and it has nothing to do with science. You have the option to choose from so much. 

3.   Does what I choose have good scope?



This is something I looked up for in each and every course I researched about. Yes, scope is an important thing but it isn't something that can be determined a cent percent. I know there is still this stereotypical mindset- especially in India- that engineers and doctors are the most successful professions. They are all wrong. We live in the 21st century and everything has a role to play in today's worlds. All you have to do is make sure you do your best at what you do and make sure you develop skills and knowledge down the road.

4.  Thinking from the perspective of a job





I know this comes under the previous topic but I wanted to stress on this one. What you take up in college might not necessarily be the job you do after college. I personally believe that education doesn't stop after college, you learn everyday. There are people who chose to do medicine and realise later their passion lies in design. Your degree doesn't necessarily speak for you, your knowledge and experience does.


5It's OK to ask for help




Sometimes everyone needs help. Only you can make the decision for yourself but you could definitely use some help to gain clarity not only in the decision you're making but also in yourself. Talk to your family and friends. Talk to your school graduates and see how they got help. You could even get some professional help if you need it; I did. There are plenty of career counselors out there and most even do sessions on Skype. 

These are just some things that helped me figure things out. I was reluctant at first to reach out but once I did, it really helped me figure out my passion and I've ended up choosing a path that makes me envious and excited everyday. Hopefully, this helps you guys too.
And if at all you want to discuss further with us, feel free to reach out anytime. 😁
Good luck and best wishes!💕