Young people in society
Provided by the Professional Order of Social Workers of Québec (Ordre professionnel des travailleurs sociaux du Québec), these articles are intended to help you deal with everyday life. They could also give you resources to help a friend!
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Get ready to launch your life
by Claire Leduc, Social Worker, Family and Marriage Counsellor
Now that this year's final exams are now over, you may be getting ready to enter a new phase in your life. Do you plan to go to university? Have you found a job in your field? Do you want to move in with your boyfriend or girlfriend or rent an apartment with some friends? It's zero hour and you've got a zillion choices before you. What will you do next? Here are a few tips to help you find direction in life.
When making a decision, one thing you are sure to regret later on is forgetting to factor who you are and what you like into the decision-making process. Knowing yourself is the most important asset you can have for this step. But this can seem difficult at the end of the school year, when you're getting through a maelstrom of deadlines and end-of-year parties.
Knowing how to stop is a quality that will help you throughout your life. Insight, an ability to be developed, can help you understand your inner nature, which is separate from what others think of you. For example, Mathieu, who wanted to become an astronaut, realized that his technical mind would be more useful to him in electrical engineering. On top of that, since he's very much in love with Isabelle, he can't imagine being always on the move. As for Isabelle, she knows her artistic temperament is strongest. So, to earn her living, she plans to design Web sites. Often, all you need to do is take the time to take a good look at yourself.
Maybe your life has been a bit more complicated (parents' divorce, major conflicts, etc.) and you're having a hard time making out your personality. In that case, you may find that writing your autobiography can help you discover your strong points and the things you enjoy. The hardest part will be starting to write it. Take 1 half-hour several days a week to work on it and you'll soon find that you understand yourself better. That's encouraging! You can also talk about it with some of your best friends and with adults you trust. They'll often be able to point out things you've never noticed about yourself, giving your self-esteem a little boost.
Usually, once you turn 18, you begin to be able to determine your vision of the future. If you've taken personal development classes, you know the different steps. You are now building your personality. Why don't you try drawing a happy "you" and writing a text based on that image? The drawing can be your inspiration—a road map that shows where you want to go and how to get there.
If you already know yourself well—including your tastes, your needs and your values—you are ready to launch your life. Now you just need to learn how. Veronica called her grandmother in a panic: "Nana, help me find a marketing internship so I can graduate!" Like many adults, Veronica's grandmother had developed an extensive network of professional and social contacts during her life. After a few well-placed phone calls, Veronica soon had an internship. And she did her grandmother proud! This internship opened many doors on the job market to Veronica. Of course, she had to be prepared with an up-to-date resume and a portfolio showing off her talent, her training and, especially, her determination and team spirit.
In short, the secret is to find, deep within yourself, the passion that motivates you. It may change over the years, but this well of energy in you will open doors and help you find your niche in a world that will need you more and more.
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