Figuring out what you want to be when you grow up

Image from Keyla Cedano

Remember when you were about 5 and people would ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up you’d say something like, I want to be: a firefighter/teacher/nurse/pilot/vet/astronaut?

No one ever said I want to be a Broadcast Technician/Market Research Analyst/Paralegal Assistant/Medical Records Officer /Public Relations Executive/Set Designer.

And how many of us go on to be fire-fighters or space sailors? The reality is that when we were young we really only had a broad view of what was out there, and really, what did it matter anyway when you were 5 and playing ‘Doctors and Nurses’ in the school yard? But by the time you’re 15 and trying to choose what subjects you should do at school so that you can get into a course at uni, you are now the one asking yourself the question of “What do I want to be when I grow up?” 

To tell the truth, not many of us know this. A lot of people land in jobs that they would never have consider as a 5 year old, 15 year old or even a 25 year old. For people who decide that they want to be a doctor their pathway from school to uni is clearly defined and this can make their choices easier and their motivation stronger. 

For the rest of us it is a matter of figuring it out as we go along which, is not a bad thing at all because eventually we find that there are a whole lot of options out there that we never even knew about and we find ourselves doing really awesome things like designing sets for bands or organising events at a PR agency.

One thing is for sure, everyone’s journey to their chosen career is different.

The rules:

We are only going to insist on having one rule: do what YOU are interested in. The key factor to success is choosing a course that you find fascinating. If you are unsure about what this course could be think about the subjects you like at school and your strongest abilities and talk to a Career Advisor about what courses could match these interests and skills.

Making it happen:

Come and chat to one of our Student Advisors because not only can they help you figure all these things out, but they have been where you are right now and maybe, just maybe, when they were little they said “when I grow up, I’m going to help students get into uni and find the course that will lead them on their path to discovering their dream career.” Even if they didn’t, that’s where they find themselves now, and loving it, FYI ;)

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