Ask Jasmine: Confused About Your Next Steps?

Posted on Thursday, April 7th, 2016

Algonquin College Graduation“I’m approaching graduation and I’m conflicted about what my next step should be. Should I travel while I still can? Should I pursue more education? Do I try to find a career job right away, even though I don’t have much experience? Help!”

What an exciting time! You have so many great opportunities ahead of you. Although I can’t answer your question about what your next step should be, I can assure you that you’ve got some time to figure it out. While there is pressure to determine what you want to do with your life from an early age, know that young adulthood is all about self-exploration and discovery. It’s a time to try new things, to challenge yourself, and to make and learn from your mistakes. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, wary, and uncertain, know that you’re in good company.

Some things to think about:

  1. Get comfortable with uncertainty. As we transition into adulthood it’s easy to get trapped into thinking that we need to have it all figured out. This is a big fat farce! The truth is, uncertainty is normal and unavoidable. It’s okay not to know your next move.
  2. Listen to others, but make your own decisions. There will be times in your life when others try to make decisions for you. We all love to give advice, right? Remember that nobody else has to wear your shoes. Sometimes the choices you make will turn out to be mistakes – or what you perceive as mistakes at the time. It’s all part of the messy and bewildering process. Giddy-up!
  3. Do your research. Whether you’re going backpacking in Europe or enrolling in a new program, spend some time inquiring about it before committing. Read about it, talk to the experts, and ask tons of questions. This will help to enrich your experience and minimize your anxiety.
  4. Talk to a counsellor on campus. Counsellors are able to assist students with career assessment and planning. Career counselling can help you to explore your values, skills, goals, and passions to help clarify future possibilities. Counsellors also have access to career assessment tools like the Myers– Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which can help to reveal how you perceive the world and make decisions. You can also work on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns that might interfere with success.

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