When deciding what courses and career to choose (at whichever age!), it is important to consider motivation, ability and personality… what you want to do and what you can do (and whether you will fit in). This includes considering your desired lifestyle and location in addition to where your natural talents and abilities lie.

To ensure maximum fulfillment, enthusiasm and drive, thorough consideration of interests, values, ambition, potential motivators and incentives are necessary.

Are current goals and rewards really those favoured by you, or are they actually your teachers’, parents’ or peers’? What drives you as a person? What do you enjoy doing? What do you really want out of life?

While interests tend to be broadly established by one’s twenties, other needs may be dictated by external factors, such as financial requirements, or a preference to live in a certain area. Values, such as a wish to ‘give something back’, or a need for ‘greater life-work balance’ can often develop later in life, perhaps upon having a family.

It is frequently assumed that all people are motivated by money, but some individuals would prefer a lower paid position which is interesting and stimulating to one  one which is lucrative, yet mundane, repetitive and boring. Not everyone seeks promotion and the headache/challenge of responsibility. These choices need to be explored (bearing in mind that interests and personality will change and develop with time).

What strengths and talents do you have?

A person’s ability to perform a task further depends on natural talents and aptitudes, education and learned skills. Look for evidence of capability (e.g. demonstrated technical, communication, visual or logical problem solving skills). If not employing psychometric measurement (many schools have unused and therefore wasted data on students’ scores in verbal, numerical and non-verbal reasoning), clues regarding aptitudes can often be gleaned from your academic grades, plus individuals tend to like activities for which they have natural talent.

What subjects had the best grades – what do these have in common? What comes most naturally – verbal, numerical, logical or visual/practical tasks? What additional knowledge, skills and experience, perhaps from outside school, do you have on which to capitalise? Are there as yet undiscovered talents? Think compared to peers as well as relative talents for you. Look for occupational matches and consider whether a traditional academic or more vocational route would suit you best.

How much of your success is down to liking the subject or teacher? It is surprising how often one finds that individuals, through sheer determination and training, have proven successful against the odds. Think how much more comfortable and easy it would be if building on natural talents!

Sherriden Hughes, BSc, MEd,C. Psychol.

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