For all high school students who don't know what to do after they graduate?

Question

i had to write a summary for school about my plans. i make my thoughts and points clear- i want to know if this changes your mind about your plans, and how you feel or what you think after you read it.

Originally I had planned on going to university right after I graduate. I find that there is social pressure to immediately jump into university and at first I had succumbed to that pressure- but after doing some research on architecture and its institutes and universities, I changed my mind and decided to take a year off. Why do the majority of high school students follow the same path when we are all different, and benefit from different situations? I am sure that this is the best choice for me because I still believe that we are far too young to make a grand decision such as choosing which field we want to go to, and where, especially when the risk is so high. The money can easily set you back if you make a mistake and hate the field you choose, or find it exceedingly difficult. There is also the point that most high school students grudge through school for the sake of passing. If there was a teenager and an adult both taking the same course, it’s highly likely that the adult will try harder at the course because he/she has been through hard times thus understanding the true value of learning. At this point in our lives hardly any of us have discovered our passion. All we see are endless paths- all confusing, complex, and with high risk of distorting our future.

I was extremely indecisive – I didn’t know if I wanted to study abroad, if I wanted to go into architecture or language or if there was some other undiscovered job that I would like even more. I didn’t know what I was good at, what I liked, what my limits were. All these qualities made me realize that I didn’t know anything. Therefore I am taking a year off to work full-time and possibly take some academic or home economics courses to better my knowledge. This way I am able to save up money for university, I gain work experience, social skills, and most importantly– self-growth.

the writing isn't perfect, i just wanted to make my point.

Answer 1

They have a word for this:  Education Burnout.  

Sometimes when you don't know what you want to do...the best thing is to do nothing.  Give yourself a year.  Look at the world through "high school grad" eyes.  Get a job, travel, paint, twiddle your thumbs.  It doesn't matter what you do, so long as in the end, you get perspective on what it is you want.

You may think its a bad idea.  But in the end, it helps more than you know.  Some people jump into college because its expected.  A lot of them drop out because they are so sick of school, they fail.  Maybe if they'd thought about what it was they wanted to do...they'd have won out in the end.

Kudos to you.  In the long run, you'll end up better prepared for what's ahead of you.

Answer 2

lol! This didn't change me in the slightest. Why? Because you basically just explained exactly what I already intend on doing, although without the part about architecture. My decision to work full-time for a year was mainly finance-based though, since I intend on moving out when I go to university. Remember though, it's good to do this for a year, but don't do it for too long if you plan on going to uni, because if you walk in to a company at the age of 30 with the same degree as somebody who's 21, guess who'll get the job? Not you I'm afraid. Still, this is a great decision for you to make, and it'll help you a lot in the future I'm sure. Good on you!

Answer 3

BRAVO!

Your argument and supporting facts are superb!

I personally took 11 years off after high school and now I love college. I appreciate the expense of going for a higher education and my goal is set. I agree that not many people have found their 'passion' that will be their future by the time they graduate and will tend to 'goof off' if they feel that their Mommy and Daddy will continue to pay for their classes.