A high schooler’s career crisis

May 18, 2023

High school students are often bombarded with this very tricky question: “What do you want to do after you graduate?” For some, a fixed answer pops right into their head but for many others, the question brings endless pondering and stress.

Adults make it a strong point that students should have their future planned out. Nevertheless, such important decisions cannot be decided upon overnight. Sometimes, it can feel hopeless. It is easy to feel left behind when everyone else seems to have decided their pathway and one is left still contemplating what is right for them. Swadana Devadas, a grade 11 student at RH King Academy, has been experiencing a similar situation, an occupation identity crisis. “I don’t have a good idea of what I want to do in the future, since every job has its pros and cons.”

Many rush into pathways they will not enjoy later on, solely for its benefits; as such, it is crucial for one to take note of their strengths, weaknesses and interests when first mapping out their plans. Devadas mentions that her family is a huge factor regarding her decisions, “I am also concerned about my family liking the job I choose, which does not give me the freedom to pursue what I wish.” In a world where money is the main motivation, many students are forced to follow pathways they are not actually passionate about. These endless factors that students must consider make career selection vastly more challenging and nerve-wracking.

It is important to note that high school is already a chaotic time as it is; many students already have so much on their plate that they are not given the opportunity to even think about planning their future. “The courses we choose in grade 11 will determine the courses we can take in grade 12. The courses we take in grade 12 will then determine post-secondary options,” says Nabiha Tahseen, another grade 11 student at RH King Academy. Tahseen continues, “Due to that, I think students in grade 11 are under a lot of pressure to figure out what they want to do 10 years from now. It is really stressful since most of us are just trying to get our volunteer hours, not plan out what we’re going to do when we’re 25.”

It is entirely normal for one’s goals and plans to shift during this important developmental time from adolescence to adulthood. Everyone is discovering what suits them best, and it could be entirely different from what they had first assumed they would pursue while growing up. Second-guessing one’s decisions is absolutely normal; post-secondary plans are significant and require a lot of thinking and effort in advance. From RH King students themselves, many can say it definitely takes time to be confident with one’s decision.