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Take an interest inventory

I have come to see the step after high school as a type of initiation, transition or gateway to educational experiences that result in a successful career path. When you take the step to higher education with a good sense of purpose, you tend to end up doing what you like.

Having taught first- and second-year university students, I’ve found that discovering who you are is the foundation upon which you build everything else.

School and life are a part of the same thing, but they require different ways of understanding the world. The challenge as you go to the next level of education is to bring together your personal preferences and your abilities. School tends to be about the acquisition of intellectual information. Life and career choices require a more individualized, broader look at the learning experience. I consider the main obstacle in choosing what you wish to study is getting away from your own thoughts about yourself and recognizing your likes and preferences.

I often comment to my students that for many years, they have practiced collecting apples. The next step is deciding what types of apples to collect.

To make good decisions about what you want to do, you have to step back from your own learning process. Put what you are good at aside, and forget the expectations of your friends and family.

Ask yourself what, how, where and most importantly, why. These questions can be asked first as you embark upon your educational career, and again once you have finished school. You will spend less time worrying now and less time switching careers later.

What do you want to learn? Unfortunately, this is one question that people spend most of their time answering. My advice is to deal with the other questions before this one. The why, where and how answers will come more easily.

Why is the one question that gets the least attention but demands the most. Some choose a career based on challenging themselves. Some people choose a career for its pay. When you are able to choose the top reason for selecting a career path, or selecting a specific job within a field, the other answers come

easily.

How do you like to work? As a teacher, manager, team leader or independent contactor? Is doing your own thing and being your own boss important to you? Is working in a large company for 10 years to become a manager seem like a good plan?

Where is a simple question, but it’s very important. Where do you want to live and work? Is commuting for an hour each day acceptable? Do you want to work in the country or the city?

When you have answered the questions above, the what answer comes easily. What do you want to learn? What do you want to do with the skills you already have? What are you good at?

Making the transition to career from school, and from high school to university or college, requires personal assessment. Doing it well ensures a sense of satisfaction in what you study.

David A. Berger is executive director of The Living Education Institute, on the Web at www.LivingEducation.ca.

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