What you need to know when it hits you
By Khushi Bedi
After completing a few years of high school, everyone is perhaps in a dilemma preparing, deciding, and being committed to a college or a university of their choice based on their passions, likes, and interests. It is a stressful time for many, as you may think you have to commit to a particular pathway that will determine your future. And yes, the stress does hit you in grade 11. Intrusive thoughts such as “What if I don’t get in? What if I get rejected from my dream school?”can be a rollercoaster of emotions when deciding where to go for post-secondary education.
And obviously, feelings of rejection are a key part of this. Many can handle rejection, and many lose hope at the end of it. Most of the time, you blame yourself for this. The feeling of emotional despair is hiding in the corner. The feeling of nervousness may arise when you feel like the career pathway you’ve chosen for yourself is not something you want to pursue. It is a long journey, but remember to follow your heart.
Excelling in your classes is key, after all, your average is dependent on which school you’d apply for. Thinking about which university you would attend is on my mind 24/7. Setting and working towards your goals is a great way to handle the stress associated with approaching university or college applications. And if truly speaking, summer time is the best time to set your goals and priorities and study for upcoming courses. This way, you have a higher chance of succeeding in your classes, and overall, you ARE determined to.
Another concept to learn is the firm belief of believing in yourself. For instance, many may lose hope when being rejected to their dream college, and that feeling itself can be truly indescribable. The dream of going to your dream college or university is something that we all dream about and finally, when that happens, we feel accomplished. Hard work and dedication are the two reasons we succeed in what we do. And ten years from now, you’d probably tell yourself not to worry and stress about the smallest things, and procrastination is the culprit, along with other habits which don’t lead to success.
Obviously, there is a stigma around choosing certain education fields. There are many good-hearted individuals in our lives who may tell you to go in a specific direction for a profession just because it is the norm. Your future career depends on what you love and what your passion is. Whether it be art, music, medicine, construction, or business, listen to what your heart says. Life is all about you, you’re the main character! So get up, and start believing in yourself. Your profession is not dependent on your gender and sexuality, it is based on your skills and abilities.
Grade 12 is about becoming a stronger individual, handling obstacles such as rejection, and knowing everything does happen for a reason. Our family and friends are our supporters who don’t let us think negatively about the future. Hopefully, everyone’s dreams of post-secondary are achieved and fulfilled! Good luck to all graduating graduates!!
(P.s.: you are the best!!)