After exams
Parents - this is written for your teens; I found it easier to aim it at them in the first person instead of taddressing it to parents. I hope this doesnt confuse people.
Right. So you did your exams in the summer. There are
two sets of exams that I am thinking of here, in the UK they are called GCSE's (high school cert) and A levels ( I dont know the Aussie equilivent). You are waiting for the results, you have a list of things you will do when they come, jobs, careers, training programmes, or even further education where you need to make a certain grade for some of them. In the meantime what do you do?
Well, you could slum it and live off the 'rents, get a job, go travelling, get pregnant (or father a child). There are many options and with life in the balance sometimes it is hard to make the right choice. A job is a great option, but it is a lot of responsibility. Travelling is great, but often mummy and daddy arent rich enough to fund it, so you need the job. Or you could do a gap year - very fashionable these days.
I really dont advise sex, drugs and alcohol. Basically because there are so many dangers and there are so many opportunities that you could miss out on. But that is not life - people do these things and then they realise afterwards the lost opportunities. Hopefully they learn and grow from that. As we know from other articles written on Minti this experimentation can have fatal results.
I had a job from 13. I funded two school trips, one skiing in Austria and another to Germany the following year. When I graduated high school - while I was waiting for my results I went home to NZ to catch up with family and friends - my parents loaned me the spending money. But I had saved the fare and insurance and airport tax from my job.
I literally worked to travel, and that has been my luxury ever since really. If I ever save up enough I am off somewhere travelling - as long as my bills are paid I dont see it as a bad thing, though I will have to curb it while E is in school. LOL
My youngest brother is a musician and he busks and has done for years. I dont know how old he was when he started, but that is a great way for him to earn money doing something he loves. It is also a way he can practise music and get paid for practising!!! Not many times that can happen.
Once your results arrive what then?
Yay! you got the grades you wanted - now maybe you are going to college, starting a training course, or even moving away from home to go to university.
But what if you didnt make the grade?
Will you still be accepted on the path you want to follow or will you need to reevaluate, retake an exam, or even a complete course?
Will you need to get a job and reapply next year?
Will you take a gap year to sort yourself out and get your thoughts in order?
These decisions will affect the rest of your life. Make them carefully and wisely. talk to your parents. They were once your age too - honest! They faced a similar crossroads. Talk to career advisors and teachers. Anyone you trust, youth workers, the lot. Each will have an idea of your potential and your interests. Between them all you will come to a clearer idea of your prospects and make an informed decision.
I know that I knew what I wanted from a young age, but I still spoke to heaps of people because I wanted to know what they thought of who I was. I knew who I thought I was, but other people have different ideas, they perceive me differntly and notice different talents to what I perceive in myself.
I wish everyone making these choices good luck and a successful future where your dreams can become realities if you put in the effort to get them.
Peace
EF.x
(December 2006) (
