“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Every preschool teacher, parent, or friend has asked this when we were younger; but that question hits harder now. It’s no longer just an innocent question; it now makes us think harder than we ever did as kids. Hearing this question now, some think: “What do I want to be when I grow up? Am I even sure that I want this?”
In today’s world, knowing what to do in life, going to university fresh out of high school, and planning for what your potential career will be, is not just an expectation. For high school students, it has become the norm. As many see their peers excited to pursue their futures, and they still remain static in their choices, they can’t help but feel so much dread and pressure, feeling like they have failed.
Why the Pressure Exists
Many people argue that society forces us to choose a path far too young. It doesn’t just stem from picking a university major, for some, it may start as early as Secondary or Middle school, where they have to pick their streams, deciding what subjects they will inevitably take. Additionally, schools now pressure students to attend university fresh out of high school, and some universities further enforce it by adding age limits to bachelor degree students.
Traditionally, universities and higher education was optional, but societal norms make it seem like it’s mandatory. We are made to believe that we are a “failure” by not attending, and that “we will never get anywhere in life without one” (Which, the sad part is, now it is not far from the truth).
Even simple talk between your closest friends and family can bring a spark of jealousy, pressure and dread. Parents expect their child to take certain subjects, majors, universities, even scholarships, even if it’s not what their child wants (after all, they are funding it). With friends, one might see their peers participate in extracurriculars and internships to boost their CV, finding joy in planning out their future. Seeing this, and where people may stand in their preparation, they might feel left behind or left out, thinking they cannot amount to what their friends are achieving.
Careers aren’t Linear Anymore
Being worried doesn’t stop at university, it extends to our jobs. Before, jobs used to follow a simple path. Start entry-level, climb the ranks, then earn more. Now, jobs aren’t that simple. One might have to hop between jobs, change their entire careers, and the like. In the Computer Science field, what once was a major with booming business opportunities, is now facing AI’s takeover and a flood of graduates. Now, the job market is extremely saturated, and many now say that taking a Computer Science major is tantamount to being unemployed.
It’s not just Computer Science facing AI takeover; practically every automated job is being replaced by it. Art, Manufacturing, you name it, there is probably already an AI version out there.
This doesn’t even stop at AI. In both China and Indonesia, the entire job market is saturated, and from word of mouth, it may be because of the distrust between corporations and youth, preventing them from obtaining even entry level jobs, even more so related to their degree.
What Exploration Looks Like
The truth is, our interests change. As mentioned earlier, what we wanted to be as kids will most likely be different with what we will actually pursue. But how do we figure out what we want to do? It starts with our interests.
In my experience, my preteen self wanted to be an illustrator, or a writer. I started drawing as a hobby, but slowly incorporated it in my school projects, where I earned praise. But when I decided to take a more serious route, I felt the burnout of having to draw under a short time period.
Around this time, there was something else I scored high in; Computer Science. I was doubtful at first, because I thought I wouldn’t do well in theory, but I soon fell in love with Programming, especially after a class project; a text-based Python RPG game. I did my project solo, and it was recognized as the best designed project in the grade.
I decided on pursuing Computer Science, while maybe doing illustration as a side hustle. Still, I am not done exploring. The world changes every so often, and I might have to start exploring alternatives, and that’s okay.
Life is about exploring, and it never stops. Just because someone has figured something out, doesn’t mean that it’s their final plan. If one doesn’t know what to do in life, then one has to keep exploring their options more. If something doesn’t work out, don’t be afraid to try new things, even if it means pausing or diverging from a previously established idea.
Tips to Ease the Anxiety
Feeling lost may be overwhelming, but the good news is that there are ways to alleviate that pressure.
As stated before, start with what excites you. Think about activities that you enjoy doing, those that make you lose track of time. Maybe exploring them can lead to paths you might not have expected.
Try tools designed to help you. You can try taking personality or aptitude tests. There are some centers that offer this, but it can be done online as well. They aren’t perfect but they can highlight strengths you might have overlooked, based on your personality and interests. They can be a starting point to the decision you’ll eventually land on.
Reflect on your current journey as well. It also helps to do some research or journalling to figure out what you might like. Over time, you can discover what might interest you, and it can give clarity and direction.
There’s no deadline to figure out what you want to do, but every step you take to figure that out brings you closer to understanding your own self.
All Hope is Not Lost
Just because you can’t figure out what you want to do now, doesn’t mean you will be in this same position a few years from now. There will always be something that sparks your interest to pursue, whether it be a small business, a tech start-up, or a freelance job.
For now, it’s okay to not have everything figured out. Others might have planned their lives, or people may have pressured you, but your path is yours alone. You are the only thing in life you can control, and no one can judge how you live your life, be it in the present, or the near future.
So maybe, the question isn’t “What do you want to be when you grow up,” anymore. Instead, ask yourself:
“Where do I want to go from here?”
