Summer next steps, changing your mind, and why aiming for the perfect job might not be a smart move.
😊 Welcome
Not sure what you should be doing over summer? Just want to relax, but have a niggling feeling there are a couple of things that you should probably get out of the way?
If so, read on, as this week we look at just two or three things that you can usefully do over summer to keep your journey to university on track.
Secondly, a little reassurance that it is never too late to change your mind.
And finally, why aiming for the perfect job might not be a smart move.
✍️ Summer next steps
We heard from James Clear (author of Atomic Habits) the other week, that “You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need to know your next step”.
As you finish your school year and head into the summer break, you are probably caught right in the middle of a dilemma: On one hand you are tired, you want a break, and you really don’t want to think about school or university. On the other hand, the fact that you aren’t 100% sure about what you are going to do next, and the pressure from parents and teachers to get some decisions made, or some back-up plans in place, is stressing you out.
So, how do you square this dilemma?
Well, the answer is simple: instead of feeling you have to have everything figured out completely, instead, just have two or three things in place that you can take action on over the summer.
Whether you are in year 12 heading into year 13, and are making some initial university choices, or whether you are in year 13 and heading off to university, I have you covered with three suggestions of really practical next steps that you can take to make sure you keep moving forward with your choices.
💡 Did You Know?
When it comes to university choices, it’s never too late to change your mind.
If you are having a wobble about your choices, be reassured that it’s perfectly normal.
Instead of stressing about it, just take one or two actions to help resolve your uncertainty: Find a relevant on-line taster course to see if you enjoy the subject, visit the university to see if you like the place, or contact some current students on the course via Unibuddy to see how they are enjoying it.
If you realise it's not for you, then take all the time you need before commiting to something else, even if it means taking a year out.
It’s far better to change your mind now, before you start the course, than to face the dilemma of whether to quit after you've started.
📢 Quote of the week
“Choosing a career isn’t like finding a soul mate. It’s possible that your ideal job hasn’t even been invented yet.”
Adam Grant
Author of Think Again
So, don’t worry about whether there is a perfect job out there for you. Instead think about all those interesting challenges that you could help find solutions to. Think about how you might build up the knowledge, the skills and the experience that could help you solve them. And then take action to discover how, one step at a time.
Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
