The path after SPM
FOR most people, the period following the SPM examination is rife with questions. They could range from “What should I do next?” to “What course should I pursue?” and many more along those lines.
When we were younger, there wasn’t as much information available on social media. I recall spending time visiting education carnivals and fairs just to learn about higher institutions and what courses were available.
Today, despite the availability of information, there are still students who are unsure or even unaware of the opportunities awaiting them. This is where parents and teachers can help. Some options include pursuing higher education or enrolling in vocational programmes.
But then again, how do we ensure that they make the right choice? There are a few possibilities here. For one group, there’s a clear path — the academic path. This is the group of students who always excel in their studies. Many would have already made their choice of courses and universities. Some have already known from a young age.
But this group is in the minority. The majority may not even be aware of their talents and capabilities, let alone their passion. But this also presents a new opportunity for them. They should open up their minds to explore new possibilities. They can do so by visiting education fairs or having a chat with responsible adults in their lives.
CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY
Recently, I learnt about a young woman who’d just graduated in Law, but decided to pursue a career in teaching. She’d always had an interest in dealing with children. She’d probably taken a different course had she received proper guidance earlier.
In any case, that could probably be just a part of her journey of discovery. Many of us are still searching for our passion. It’s not wrong to keep exploring until we find something that gets us excited.
So, how do we help the majority of school leavers who are still searching for their future? I can suggest two ways for them to find their passion. Parents and teachers can ask them this question: “What problem do you like solving?” This could be a window to their passion. What do they like helping people with? What do you feel happiest about once you’ve completed a task?
Once they’ve found the answer, they may have found their interest and talents. The second step is to pursue the skills that will enable them to do it better. Interest and skills must go together. It’s not about having a huge interest and talent but lacking the skills to do it. Likewise having skills without interest will not make them happy in the chosen field.
Fortunately, there are many skills training these days. Some even cater to those who are no longer interested in furthering their studies.
I recall the words of a senior officer of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) who said: “Education isn’t about producing smarter people, but it’s about creating people who are useful to society.” These are beautiful and wise words that offer hope to everyone, regardless of their academic potentials. Everyone deserves the chance to contribute positively to society. Parents must help the younger generation to fulfil their destiny.