The journey to grade 12 is filled with many changes and decisions. Trust me, I would know. I had to go from having my school lunch made with love by my mom, to prepping my own lunch.
It was not a change I had bargained for, but one that simply happened because I got older and had to play an active role in choosing what I wanted to eat every weekday.
Little did I know that this would be a constant theme that would follow me in school and beyond. It all became real when I reached grade 9 and had to choose subjects that I would eventually write in my final matric exams.
Choosing subjects in grade 9
This is a big step, because these are the subjects that you will typically continue to do until you matriculate. But how can you know if you’re making the right choice?
The truth is, the ‘right choice' is not guaranteed because we cannot predict the future, but you can rather try your best to make the decision with some short-term and long-term goals in mind.
Think about what you enjoy & what you’re good at
Choosing subjects is a serious matter, of course, but it would be good to enjoy some aspects of the subjects you choose. The rule of thumb is that if you enjoy something, you’ll eventually be good at it.
So, think about all of the time you’ve spent in different classes and reflect on the subjects that managed to make you want to listen and engage the most in class.
Go a step further and take a look at your marks. Are your marks good? If not, can you improve them? And if you can improve them, will choosing the subject align with your career goals?
Set academic & career goals for yourself
Choosing a career is a big decision, but don’t let fear stop you from at least identifying a few options of what life could look like after high school.
Don’t centre your choices around one specific career, have multiple career choices that can accommodate the subjects that you’re considering.
Think about entry into university or college, or even the workforce. What are some of the minimum requirements? Would your subjects allow you to meet these minimum requirements?
Seek career advice
Making the decision of which subjects to keep and drop is not easy. If you have access to a career guidance counsellor, now would be the best time to make use of their services.
If you do not have a career guidance counsellor at school, try asking your teachers if they would be able to give you more information about the subjects you want to choose.
It also would be a good way to find out the possible career options you’d have if you choose that subject.
You can ask for pamphlets and any additional resources that you can use to inform yourself before making your final decision. Most importantly, don’t be too hard on yourself, and remember that you don’t have to have it all figured out.
Making this decision is a journey that will help you learn and grow in many ways. Be open to any possible change that might come your way.
