OPINION

Making the Big Decision after High School!!
By: Lauren S., Holy Heart High School, St. John's, NF

Choosing what to pursue after high school can be a tedious and stressful process. I’ve been there often, over and over again. It’s not that I don’t know what I like doing, it’s just that I don’t know if those things are career worthy. Everyone is faced with this decision at some point or another, and every time there is a life-altering choice which has to be made. It may dawn on some people very easily, but to others it is a difficult task.

Take myself, for instance. I love music with all my soul, but I’ve always wondered what kind of career it could be for me. I have never been interested in being an educator, and I’ve forever thought that being a performer isn’t much of a life-long job. It doesn’t exactly seem to serve a beneficial purpose when I really think about it.

So when the time came for me to decide what to study in university next year, I needed to seriously think about what would be best for me. I had spoken to virtually every person I know about what they thought I should do. But then I realized that it wasn’t their opinions that mattered. I needed to accept that what I wanted was up to me, not everyone else. That was when I decided to obtain information from people, not opinions.

I began by talking to my band instructor. He explained that if I felt like I’d enjoy music school, then that’s what I should do, because I am very capable of doing extremely well in such an environment. I thought about what he said for a long time, and then I went to my parents to see how they felt. They told me to follow my dreams, my heart. “Do what you want to do,” they said. What did I want to do? I certainly didn’t know. I knew I loved music and playing the piano. But was that what I really wanted?

Then I decided to speak to my piano teacher. We had a very long discussion one day during a lesson. He completely put everything into perspective. He explained all the different programs there are at the music school, and he told me he knew I could do very well there. He made me feel so much better about myself, and what I’m capable of. I suddenly felt intelligent, important, and proud that he felt so strongly about my musical abilities. He expressed so many things about me that made me think twice concerning my playing in comparison to some of the music students who attend the school. He told me he could tell I practiced intelligently, and he knew I could handle practically any musical challenge that may be thrown at me. Feeling an enormous amount of relief, I actually believed that I could stand a chance with these people, and not look like a complete amateur.

I already knew that I wouldn’t have any problems fitting in, because I am well acquainted with most of the faculty and students at the university. A number of the staff have previously heard me perform, and my piano teacher is a professor there, so in reality, I’d probably stand a pretty good chance of being accepted if I were to audition. And so, with much dwelling on the numerous possible roads to take, I finally concluded that I would audition for music school.

As intimidated as I still was, I felt fairly confident about the audition. When I arrived, I tried to put myself in a state of mind where I felt neither arrogant nor threatened, and found a happy medium. I found myself more relaxed, and I even got a chance to speak to most of the professors- and even the director- of the music school. My audition, as well as the other various examinations, went rather smoothly. Needless to say, I was relieved when it was all over.

At my piano lesson the following week, my instructor asked me how I thought my audition went. I told him I felt pretty good about everything, and I was just glad to have it over with. He began revealing that, on the list of pianists they would accept, I was among the few who did exceptionally well. He then explained to me that I stood a good chance of being a candidate for certain entrance scholarships they distribute annually. This really took me by surprise, because I honestly didn’t think I did that well. Apparently, however, I had impressed the adjudicators to more of an extent than I’d expected to.

At the present time, I am awaiting the results of my audition, which will most likely arrive in April. I’m also looking forward to starting a new school year with a vague idea of what I’d like to pursue in my life. Whether or not my decision will change is another time - another story. But until then, I’m happy with what I’ve announced as my ambition for the next year.

The advice I have received from my family and others whom I look up to has helped greatly, and without them I think the road would have been much more tedious and agonizing. I’m grateful that they care enough to be able to advise me on such a difficult decision, and I know I’ll be able to turn to them when I need them in the future.