13 Apr 2020

The time for subject selection is fast approaching, and with it comes all of the usual pressures you inevitably face when thinking about your future. You’re getting good marks in maths, your parents want you to do drama, your best mate has enrolled for physics, but what you’re secretly interested in is modern history.

There’s a lot going on and trying to make a decision can be overwhelming. How are you supposed to have time to think about subject choices when you’re already swamped with assessments?

And how are you supposed to know what your future-self is going to enjoy studying when you don’t even know what your present-self enjoys?

Here are some things to remember.

1. Year 12 isn’t a game

Of course, of course, it’s not a game. But still, so many people treat it like one. If you’re:

  • Choosing your subjects based on which ones will get you the highest mark at the end of the year
  • Trying to achieve a higher mark than your mates
  • Trying to choose the subjects that will get you Dux of the school

Then you’re treating it like a game. Choose the subjects that you enjoy, and the subjects that will lead you towards a career or a life that you’d like to lead.

2. Your subject choices now will affect your options later

First of all, what you just read did not say ‘your subject choices now will determine your future’. That is definitely not the case.

However, if you wanna study chemistry at uni and you don’t choose any science subjects for Year 12, your path into uni isn’t going to be as straightforward as it could’ve been. Rather than going straight from school to uni, you’ll be looking at pathways and back-door entries, which can sometimes take a little longer.

3. Choose passion over scalability

Passion always wins. Have a think about your hobbies and interests and choose the subjects that align the most closely with them.

Who cares if woodwork doesn’t scale as well as biology? If you prefer making things with your hands over looking at them through a microscope, then woodwork is the go for you.

In fact, if making things with your own two hands appeals to you a lot more than the theory-and-assessment style of learning you find at school, then maybe uni isn’t the right path for you at all; the construction industry is a great career choice for people with more of a practical mindset.

If that sounds more like you, then you should check out Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ). It provides info on a bunch of different careers within the building and construction industry and can help ya find which one you’re best suited for.

4. Your mates will still be there at lunch time

And before class, and at recess, and at the end of the day. And on sport day, and on the weekends, and during the holidays. And on the bus to school, and on the bus home, and at assembly, and in the line for the canteen.

And they’ll be on school camp, and they’ll be on their phones, and they’ll be there for you in times of need. And they’ll be in your touch footy team, and they’ll be on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat.

You’ll see plenty of them.

Choose the subjects which you like.

5. It’s not the end of the world

At the end of the day, choosing your subjects might not be an easy process for you. If you’re really struggling to decide, try to remember that no matter what you choose, life will go on. Whatever you decide you want to do with your life, you’ll find that there’s a way in that doesn’t depend on your subject choices in high school. Seriously.

You might have your heart set on being a lawyer right now, but in five years’ time you’ll do a complete turnaround and change your mind. That’s completely normal, and completely fine.

But what does it mean for you right now? Should you just choose your subjects at random, because none of it matters anyway?

Not at all! Choosing the right subjects at school gives you the best opportunity to realise your dreams as soon as possible. But if you don’t nail it the first time around, there’s no need to stress. There’s pleeeeeeenty of time after school to figure all that stuff out.

And for those who aren’t sold on the whole uni thing, then CSQ is a great place to start looking for careers that offer you a more hands-on approach to learning (and working)!