You’re not alone if you’re not sure about post-secondary school. You might also want to take a year or two to work, volunteer, or travel. All are great ways to help you figure out your future.

Gap year

Taking a year to weigh your options is a really good idea if you’re feeling overwhelmed about your choices. Just remember that a year goes by really quickly, so try to use your time wisely. Do you want to travel? Work? Volunteer? A bit of everything or something completely different? Whatever you decide, try to base your decision on what will allow you to get closer to answering your questions about your future. Visit the guidance office at school or do some online research about gap programs that are available to you. You can also visit TeensHealth for more on volunteering.

Work

Finding a well paid job straight out of high school can be challenging. Most of the jobs available to high school graduates are in service (restaurants) and retail (shops). These kinds of jobs are great in lots of ways, but usually, they pay only minimum wage. It can be really hard to make a living on minimum wage—which is currently about $10 an hour in most places in Canada. Would you consider working a minimum wage job for a year or two, while you decide what you want to do next? Seeking some job training at a local college can help you find a job that pays well and is better suited to your talents and dreams.

I’m confused

It’s okay if you’re feeling overwhelmed right now. Remind yourself that there is no right decision, just right decisions for you. Visit a guidance counsellor to talk more about your options. You might ask to take an aptitude test, which helps people understand their interests a little better. Try to remember that no decision has to be final. You can always change your mind. If you decide to go to school but find out that it’s not for you, then you can try something else. Many people switch academic programs, take time off, and even change careers over the course of their life. What you do in the next couple of years doesn’t have to be forever.

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