3 minute read
Life after Matric – what now?
GUGUlETHU SHINGA
So you’ve passed matric with good results – what now? Life after high school can be pretty boring or stress inducing if you don’t have a definitive plan.
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Are you going to take a gap year or further your studies, or will you be getting a job? listed below are tips on how you can survive life after matric:
ASK FOR HELP
If you’re not sure about what step to take next, you should probably ask for help. experts say our elders know best – so talking to your parents, teachers, and career counsellors can help answer some of these questions.
FIND YOUR PASSION
Before committing to any decision, it’s important that you find your passion. What do you love doing and what comes naturally to you? Don’t know what your passion is – look for patterns in what you’ve done. Perhaps a hobby you’ve been doing can be turned into a career? Remember the saying: “do what you love so you will never have to work a day in your life.”
START SAVING
Whether you are going to college, taking a gap year, or you’ll be working, saving is an important element. If you’ll be working, you should open a savings account and deposit a percentage of your salary every month. If you’re going to college, you should draw up a budget to track your expenses. Calculate your essentials, but don’t forget the hidden expenses. If you’re taking a gap year, then you should cut down on unnecessary spending and find ways to make more money. Savings come in handy during rainy days.
HAVE SOME FUN
By “have some fun” I mean innocent fun. You’re still young and should enjoy every moment of your life. This is a chance for you to make new friendships and do activities that you enjoy. Start experimenting by exploring different jobs; maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly; travel if you’ve always wanted to travel.
PUT YOUR PLAN INTO ACTION
Once you have an idea of which route to take, you should start putting your plan into action. Things may not always go according to plan, and this is okay – work with what you have in order to get what you want. Don’t wait too long to put your plan into action – the longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to start.
