Dear all parents, students and friends,
We were a little slow with our posts towards the end of last year but we are back and burning.
There were a few blog posts we had prepared at the end of last year that hadn’t made it to our site so we thought we would start with them before getting to the new posts prepared for this year.
At the end of last year we had a little bit of a theme running with our blogs this year with a strong focus on our Year 12 students – guiding them through the new English syllabus, sharing study tips and tricks and giving them best advice on navigating this tricky period of their life.
Now we reach the final leg of the journey – HSC has been completed and the anticipation looms of the final marks and ATAR results. Amongst all of this the Year 12’s are contemplating life after school. After being kept within a tight and nurturing environment for the past 13 years, they have now been sent of into the big wide world and encouraged to make something of themselves.
For some this is quite daunting. For all these years they have been following a very specific schedule, following a timetable and always having someone on their back about their location and status of an assignment. To all of a sudden have this totally removed feels like the earth beneath them has been taken away and they don’t quite know where they are going to land next.
For others, this time of their life is liberating. No longer do they have to follow a preset daily regime. They can now study what they like, when they like and how they like. The pressure now only comes within – how much or how little they want to push themselves.
Whichever position you find yourself in is completely normal and not something that should make you feel afraid. But either one of those people may need a little guidance on the different options available beyond school. So we have put together some different options for the Year 12 graduates to help shape their path ahead.
Pursue a hobby
All through high school you’ve had a passion that you’ve spent every spare moment working on, now is your time to take it to the next level. Perhaps you can work on a solid project or portfolio to showcase your talents. For example, if you love photography why not take some time to refine your images and put together a sample you can submit for recognition? Maybe art is your passion or you love to tinker around and put computers together. If you can curate your hobby in samples of work or an organised collection, this can lead to an opportunity for you to pursue it professionally. The outside world will be receptive to your works if they are original and authentic so while you are finding your feet on your new path, this might allow for some opportunities you might not have even considered!
Continue your studies
There is a wealth of knowledge out there for you to continue learning if you desire. Whilst university is the traditional tertiary path, universities now are becoming receptive to the modern working environment and so the degrees they offer are unique and interesting. For example, University of Technology Sydney offers a degree in Creative Intelligence and Innovation which they recommend you add to another more ‘traditional’ subject so that you learn the foundations but also apply it in a creative and modern way. Check out the link here: https://www.uts.edu.au/future-students/transdisciplinary-innovation/undergraduate-courses/creative-intelligence-and Most degrees now also include a practical experience so that you leave uni with both your studies and experience.
TAFE offerings are also wide and can kick start a career in various ways. Some students even find themselves starting with a certificate which is then credited for a year’s worth of university.
Private colleges also have much on offer from digital design courses to textiles and hospitality, there are experts in the field ready and willing to teach their skills to those who are interested.
Whichever path you take, be sure to do your research because there are endless amounts of options and it might be that you come across something you didn’t even consider as you didn’t know that it even existed!
Take a Gap Year
Even if you know where you want to go, or if you don’t, a gap year is really for anyone. Many students that know they are going to university enrol themselves and then take a gap year as they need some time to discover themselves and work out their place in the world.
Gap years can be spent so many different ways we aren’t even going to bother listing them because we would be here forever! Needless to say, if you are going to take a gap year, be sure that the year is productive. What that means is don’t let the year get away from you, make a plan and stick to it.
If you are travelling or working or learning a trade, be sure to fully commit yourself to that experience so that its meaningful. You want to end the year having learnt something new or developing a new perception – often done when you challenge yourself and leave your comfort zone.
Volunteer
Our current economy tends to overlook this element and as life gets busier and the costs of living increase, volunteering is not the first thing on our list, albeit there on the list somewhere.
So the first year off school when you are still living at home and not having to worry about supporting yourself is a great time to take advantage of the opportunity to volunteer. There are many domestic opportunities such as food drives and shelters that would love your support.
Or you might even decide that you want to combine travel and volunteer work so you decide that you are going to fly to Papua New Guinea and help out on the missions whilst having a cultural experience.
Learn a Trade or Skill
Whether you want to pursue a trade or skill professionally, learning it will never be to your detriment. Trades and skills never go out of fashion, they simply adapt with the times and learn to be receptive to changes. You might even find that the trade or skills leads to other opportunities you might not have otherwise thought about. Even if you learn it yet your pathway takes you elsewhere, you will always have the benefit of that skill so you can use it as required. Imagine moving into your first place and being able to do some of the renovation works because you learnt that trade when you first left skill. Your future self will thank you for it.
We hope the above helped and like always drop us a line if you’d like to chat more!
All the best with whatever pathway you choose!