From Grade X to What’s Next: Crafting Your Educational Journey

Your next step and the path you choose will be defined by the attitude you have for life and how you see it!

The range of experiences and exposures before Grade X could help you define the path ahead

By the time you are in Grade X, you are on the verge of a major milestone of your life. It is a turning point that will decide which direction your life takes.

Are you going to be an artist who will add colour to people’s lives? Or you are going to delve deep into literature, enriching people’s imagination.

You could also focus on human development, psychology or hold the fort on history if that is your forte.

Numbers could also define your life, if crunching numbers excites you. If economics and business studies seem like your business then you could definitely add value to the market.

Whatever subjects or streams you choose, the threshold of Grade X opens up an entirely new world to you, with new vistas and horizons opening up on what you choose and why you choose it.

Are you excited by the opportunities and paths opening up to you or you are fearful of what the future holds for you?

Your next step and the path you choose will be defined by the attitude you have for life and how you see it!

Delve deep

By the time you reach Grade X, you have already seen around 16 years of life and at least 12 years of schooling.

But, your ideas about yourself and your life should not be shaped just by what you have read in textbooks and classrooms.

Your ideas about yourself should be shaped by the journey you make within you, trying to find your element, the potential hidden deep within you.

Our potential usually lies away from the surface of our consciousness, just like the precious jewels are found deep under the earth.

You have to mine deep inside your inner self to unearth your true interests and potential. If you cannot do this alone, you can take the help of your parents and teachers. But, never leave your potential unearthed, which means you will never do your best.

When your potential meets the right opportunities, your career gets on the right track. You will be at ease and will be able to give your best without feeling strained or out of place.

Volunteer

One of the best ways of understanding yourself and your true potential is to expose yourself to voluntary service while still in highschool and see what sort of work gets you excited.

Your understanding about the external world and where you can fit yourself as a professional, is shaped by the range of experiences you have and the variety of exposures or opportunities you avail by the time you finish Grade X. 

As opposed to this, if you have a closed life experience caught between your classroom and home study, with repetitive experiences, it’s highly unlikely that you will have those new experiences that you need to discover your true calling. 

To find yourself and your true potential, you need to be bold enough to step outside the mould, outside the set pattern, outside the tried and tested, outside the standardised world and find your elements and talents that will set new standards.

You design your life according to the opportunities outside of you and the talents within you. 

Take your time

To take the right decision, you have to arrive at the decision over longterm deliberation and exploration. End-moment decisions won’t be beneficial, rather they could prove counter productive.

To make the best of this moment, you will have to deal with this moment with excitement rather than fear and anxiety.

You need to understand that yours is truly a unique existence, you are a truly distinct and unique being. Hence, your journey and quest should also be unique and distinct.

How do you define yourself? Are you excited about life? Do you have reverence and appreciation for this opportunity? Are you looking to add value and make this opportunity worthwhile? If yes, then you will certainly excel, but that entirely depends on how well you understand yourself and how clearly you listen to your inner voice.

Once you have successfully identified your element or passion, the next thing you have to do is assess your aptitude. See what you are good at, what do you excel in? Your career begins at the point where your passion meets your aptitude. And this could be a very fruitful and nourishing career, unlike any other you choose because of the amount of money in it or for any other reason.

The next step is for you to find find your aptitude. But, it is not enough to know what your aptitudes are, but you should also broaden your idea of what aptitude really is.

Pursuit of happiness

If happiness is your goal in life, then you should realise that money alone does not guarantee happiness. You may have all the money you want, but could still be extremely dissatisfied.

This happens because people lose balance of life while pursuing money, thinking that it will bring happiness, but when they can’t find what they were looking for or compromise everything while achieving it, they feel hollow inside.

Happiness is not having the best of luxuries or increasing your purchasing power. Happiness is a state of wellbeing – it is a state where you enjoy being yourself and doing good!

A growing number of people are disillusioned with their lives despite having flourishing careers. This is because they don’t find meaning in their life. You can find meaning in life if you realise your element. If you turn your true potential into your life’s reality!

Your importance comes from the meaning you create in your life and the impact you make in the lives of others. Even it is in just a small way!

Silent pandemic

Among the biggest causes of mortality in our age is depression, it is the new silent epidemic that is soon going to reach pandemic proportions.

Recent surveys have shown that across the world the primary cause of depression among adults is their disengagement with the work they do and their dissatisfaction with their jobs.

You are entitled to give your life true purpose and meaning. It is your right and duty towards yourself and the society.

If this is done then you will be able to bring out a different character and quality of life not just individually but also collectively.

For this to happen, you should choose your streams wisely or seek proper guidance to opt for right career path – a path that will not only help you optimise your potential as a learner and earner, but will also help you nourish your soul and the society you live in.