A solid 13 years of your life you spend working your way to university, and there’s often huge amounts of social and family pressure surrounding your studies. These days it can often feel that not going to uni is a massive loss and that the extra education is a compulsory step if you want to have any type of decent career.
Although it may feel like that, that couldn’t be further from the truth. So we’ve teamed up with headspace to help you decide which path is best for you, as part of our I Can’t Even Deal RN series.
Look After Yourself First
Sometimes your decision to postpone or not attend uni can have a lot to do with how you’re feeling emotionally after school. Final exams are extremely tiring and draining, so it’s really important to take time to yourself to re-energise and enjoy life out of school. Taking a decent break is a really amazing way to make a final decision about whether or not uni is the place for you. You can take your time to decide; there really is no rush.
Options, Options, Options
Not everything can be studied at uni. If you’re more creative or simply prefer a different environment, there are thousands of other study options like private colleges or short courses that can provide essential education in the career path you find interesting. It’s just about getting to know the right places for you. Open days for schools, colleges and courses you’re interested in are a really great way to get a feel for the environment and atmosphere.
Study Is Not Compulsory
Depending on the branch you’re looking to take, study may not be necessary. While having some background information on that career is a great way to get a head start, some career paths rely on your own talent, individuality and creativity. It’s about what you can bring to the table in your own ways. Remember, it’s often about who you know and making connections when it comes to having a successful career – not necessarily about how many HD’s you get during a degree.
No Regrets
If you don’t choose the uni path and might consider it in the future, there are plenty of ways to get back into it. Studying as a mature age student or doing bridging courses can get you right into the course you’re looking at. There’s no need to fret about missing out. Companies like General Assembly and Academy XI are brilliant ways to up-skill yourself, and often only need a fraction of the investment of a uni degree (hello, no HECS debt).
It’s Your Choice
Your family, friends and school cannot decide for you whether or not university is the right choice. Listen to your own mind and it will ultimately make the choice for you. It’s difficult, but so important to try not to listen to social and family pressures that may want you to study at university. At the end of the day, your happiness is most important. University is a great experience for many, and it could well be for you, too. Just don’t feel like you have to rush into a degree just because everyone else is doing it.
It’s essential to take your time after school to decide whether or not the lecture halls and tutorials are the right place for you. It’s not about your friends, school or family. You have the power and the final choice about what options are the best for you.
Not sure if you want to hit the books and go to uni, or hustle hard for some much needed ca$hola? Heck, maybe even both? If you’re tossing up your next step (which is a pretty big one), get in touch with headspace’s Digital Work and Study Team. They’ll help you review all of your options (and probably let you know of a few new ones you didn’t even consider!).
Image Source: NBC
