“What’s Next?” This is the dreaded question that every school leaver or soon-to-be graduate is asked. Whether it’s by family members, career advisors, or friends, the question of “what’s next?” is one that every person faces.
The first time that I asked myself this question was when I was 16 and had just started my A-Levels. I chose my subjects because they were interesting to me, not because they were a step towards my dream career. Honestly, who has a dream career in mind at 16 years old?
School Leavers and Graduates: What’s Next?
I was pitched with the prospect of university during my first month of studying for my A-Levels. It seemed like my school churned out applicants destined for Oxbridge. When I was encouraged to apply, something didn’t feel right.
I was the first in my family to consider going to university. Any institution that handed me a degree after 3 years was considered an upgrade to the people before me. I knew I wanted to be different and aim higher. But sitting on a conveyor belt en route to an institution chosen for me challenged me to question what I really wanted.
Perhaps you find yourself asking this too.
“What’s Next?“
This question doesn’t need to fill you with dread but instead could fill you with hope for the future.
Here are 3 simple ways of working out your next steps and actually being excited about them.
Your Interests
Let’s start here. Although you might not know your ‘purpose’ in life, you will know some of the things you’re interested in. How you enjoy spending your time, what you enjoy consuming and how you are able to help others, build up some of your interests.
Your hobbies and the things you do day-to-day are a good indication of working out what is next. Not every job, degree, or apprenticeship will be full of the things you are interested in, but they should include some of them.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Which activities bring out the best in me?
- How do I feel energised?
- What do I look forward to?
Your Skills
Grades at school or university are a helpful way of measuring your skillset. Thankfully, there are a number of other ways of noticing what you’re good at too. It could be that you exceed in a particular subject or even a topic within that subject. It also could be that you are developing skills outside of education that can’t be measured with grades. These are all valuable and will help you as you decide what’s next.
Here are some thoughts to ponder:
- Reflecting on your grades, which subjects have you done well in or enjoyed?
- What do your friends and family members say you are good at?
- When do you feel like you’re making a positive difference in other people’s lives?
Your Passions
Your passions are different from your interests. Interests help you to enjoy the day-to-day. Passions are the things that drive you and keep you focused. Your passions indicate the deeper motivation behind your choices.
As a student, I was interested in how the brain worked. I was passionate about helping people be free of mental illness. The interest led me to choose a BSc Psychology degree, but the passion helped me sustain my motivation, even when the course was difficult.
Your passions may change over your lifetime. Be reassured that you don’t need to have the same passion now as you will in your 70s. However, it is helpful to work out what you’re passionate about to know what’s next.
- What makes you feel emotional? Your emotional response to subjects may be an indicator of passion.
- Where do you feel there has been injustice in the world?
- On the hard days, what do you still care deeply about?
There is no formula to working out your next steps. By working out your interests, skills and passions you will be able to take a step towards a future that brings out the best in you.
PS. Why not check out Apprenticeships with Multiverse? There’s so much to choose from and you might even find your next step. Read Lewis’ Blog for more.
