Student in need of Guidance?

Question

Well, I'm currently finishing up high-school here in Canada, (taking an extra semester plus half a year off) and the daunting task of choosing my future has snuck up on me. What's the problem?

I don't really know what I want to do.

I get pretty good grades in school, and have a very broad set of interests. I can get into decent Universities, and any junior colleges. I just don't know what I want to do!

I've always had an interest in writing. I really enjoy writing fiction. I've toyed with the idea of being a screenwriter, or write for television/film, but alas, this is not a very "traditional" route, and my parents, peers, guidance counsellors, teachers all insist that I have some sort of backup or safety net. This is the kind of thing I find discouraging. I completely lose confidence.

Journalism was another option, because I like writing. But I just don't seem 100% enthused about it either.

My sister is an English major, who wants to go to teacher's college, and I guess that could be another option. Haven't really thought about it too much, though.

I don't want to make a decision, and eventually regret it down the road. This is a pretty big fear of mine.

For some reason, I'm entirely focused on the "final outcome" (ie. employment) of my education. I don't know why, but I become stressed when I can't perfectly plan everything, future-wise.

All my friends are going off to University, taking broad arts or science courses. They have no real idea what they want to do with their life, but they all seem quite content and generally laid back about it; trusting that by "going with the flow", everything will eventually work out. Why can't I think like this? Why do I always get so stressed over **** like this?

Bottom line, I want to do something I love, but I don't know what that is yet, and the clock is ticking...

Please, any advice, is very appreciated.

Thanks,

Shane

Answer 1

Most universities will allow you a couple of years before you declare your major. Use this time to take some electives in different areas that interest you to see if you really DO like these things as much as you think you do. Even then, though, if you still don't know for sure what you want, don't stress out too much. MANY people end up working in a field other than what they have a degree in. Most employers these days are looking for intelligence and "transferrable skills" (i.e. skills that are important in ANY industry, such as good communication skills, the ability to self-motivate, ability to "think outside the box", leadership skills, etc.)  And even if you have to end up taking a job in an industry you're not really interested in to pay the bills for awhile, it doesn't mean you have to give up your dream of screenwriting, etc. I work in the financial industry, I work with a man who, while working as an IT guy in my company, is writing a screenplay in his spare time and hopes to leave the company eventually to work in Hollywood. Trust me, there are LOTS of people working in TV and Film who spent the first 10 years or more of their working lives doing something totally unrelated.

You're very lucky to be living in a time when people aren't really expected to go to school, graduate, start working for a company and then collect their gold watch from that same company 40 years later. These days it's quite acceptable to "reinvent yourself" every 5-10 years. So relax !!! Just go with the flow, pick a degree when you have to, but don't lose sight of your dreams.  

Answer 2

first of all, your problem is a very common one, so don't lose heart. my own personal story: i wanted to be a biologist from the day i was born. so when i went off to college, naturally that was my major. i had taken all the advanced placement biology courses and prerequisites in high school, so i was prepared for this to be my major. had the route to my future all "mapped out", so to speak. but after my first year, i found myself losing interest in biology as a career, and wanting to try something more creative. after a couple years as an illustration major, i transferred to a culinary arts school where i ultimately got my degree, and have been happily working in the culinary field for 8 years now. the point is this: no matter how well planned you have everything, nothing is ever guaranteed. it's completely normal for you to not know what you want to spend the rest of your life doing at this point, because there's so much you haven't yet tried. that is one great thing about college. it's a place for you to try different courses of study, and talk to people that currently hold jobs in fields of your interest. if creative writing interests you, then take some classes in it. don't let naysayers hold you back; remember, michael jordan never made the varsity basketball team in high school, and albert einstein failed math. if we were great at stuff right off the bat, there'd be no need for school. allow college to be a place where your mind can grow and you can try different things before you decide exactly what it is you want to do with the rest of your life. and you shouldn't regret any of your decisions down the road; if you find yourself unhappy in your course of study or your career, then change it! you have the rest of your life ahead of you; make the most of it and stop worrying!