As far as achievements go, very few go above the feelings of pride and accomplishment we feel after writing that last high school examination paper. For as long as one can remember, from pre-school to the final class in high school, this academic pathway has always been the mainstay in our society and a foundation from which even grander academic achievements can be reached, which justifies why ‘congratulations’ are always in order for anyone who manages to successfully start and finish such a complex and, sometimes, challenging route.
We speak on this topic today to recognise the thousands of young people who have just recently completed their final class examinations in high school and are still ‘drifting in the euphoria’ of ‘freedom’ – freedom and relief from academic stress. I want to offer a piece of perspective and some mental health advice on the differences in reality, especially ‘post-school’.
Firstly, it is important to recognise that this stage is a transitional stage in our lives; meaning, it is a stage that links us to adulthood, therefore, many of the childhood habits we may have, we might have to outgrow to make way for new, age-appropriate ones. Also, this means a change in people’s perception of you.
As you begin to take on the guise of an adult, the expectations of family and relatives burgeon, highlighting a change in your role in the family and community. The pressure of your peers is a pressure that you may need to ‘shake off’ for the purposes of your own self-advancement and overall focus moving forward, while embracing your individualism in a manner that ‘feeds’ you and what you would like to achieve in the years ahead.
The importance of having bigger dreams and goals cannot be overstressed during this stage of life, primarily because when the excitement of ‘not having to wake up at five’ every morning wears off. What remains is how much desire and motivation you have to pursue your passions and try to better yourself.
The fast-paced nature of the world we live in nowadays is glorious to watch and because it is ever-changing, it has unravelled numerous career paths; some of which did not even exist some years ago. Personally, I have never been a fan of the infamous ‘gap year’ (for very valid reasons) and the point I am driving at is, there is a plethora of options you can use to keep your mind and body engaged; both academic and non-academic, instead of allowing yourself to stagnate and ‘get left behind’.
Also, financially, school leaving tends to be quite unfriendly in the sense that you are no longer entitled to a lunch allowance or ‘pocket money’ (as we used to call it) from your elders, since you no longer qualify for it. In the day and age where finances are needed for everything; from data to dates, this may also be an area that many young people struggle to cope with, especially in the post-school era.
Unfortunately, the pursuit of fast-money is the most common route in which we lose most of our young people, as they find themselves engaged in ‘sideways deals’; still trying to regain that financial ability.
Admittedly, it is an equally challenging period for parents and guardians as well, as they, too, do their best to ensure their children’s clear progression to the next stages of their lives. From a mental health point of view, it would be helpful for parents and guardians to provide guidance and engage in regular constructive dialogue with their children as they make their early, infantile steps into an unforgiving, real world. Send comments to runsford0505@gmail.com
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