Teenage Wasteland

Changing career paths. I started back to school this week for the winter semester, and there have already been a few students who have dropped out of my program for another.
I saw this happen to many friends and family over the past two years. I also saw students who hate their programs but were afraid to consider switching.
Students should not be afraid to switch programs. If you do not like what you are learning (or how you are learning it), I would actually promote urging you to think about other programs or even other schools.
I think one of the reasons why so many youth hate school is because they are taking programs and classes that they are not interested in.
First, I know I’m not the only one who will pick random classes just so that they fit my schedule, or I can have my Fridays free or finish classes before 2:00 p.m. every day (or something like that).
My best advice?
Pick electives that you are going to enjoy and don’t reconsider them just because it takes place at night or early in the morning (depending on which you dislike).
When you pick good electives you might find something you really like and consider switching into a program that focuses on that discipline.
As for my experience, I took a political science class last semester just because it was online. This was the worse possible class for me because I have zero interest in knowing about the differences between the ideology of Carl Marx’s and David Easton.
On the other hand, I took a guitar class elective my first year at Dawson College and even with the hours of demanding practicing it was the most fun I have had in school,.
I proceeded to take that class with that same teacher every other semester while I was at Dawson and now I can play La Bamba and too many Beatles songs on a guitar.
Second, you shouldn’t let the amount of years that it takes to complete your schooling deter you. Attending CEGEP and university is not easy; some people will be faced with roadblocks.
I have friends who have been in CEGEP for three years (or longer). At least they are going to graduate with a degree that they actually might lead to enter a career along the way. They learned from their mistakes and got to take an array of classes to expand their knowledge.
Third, don’t listen to your parents.
I mean that figuratively, you should still eat your vegetables and stay away from drugs, sketchy people and avoid getting pregnant until you can responsibly support yourself and another human being.
What I meant is that you shouldn’t be pressured by your parents to go towards a career like a plastic surgeon or a lawyer; you have to listen to your heart and not your parent’s brain.
During my years at Sacred Heart School I saw this all too much - girls freaking out because they can’t get into math 536 because their grades were not good enough. They proceeded to cry that they won’t get into Marianopolis and will never become successful doctors or own a house in Westmount, like their mothers and fathers wanted.
Not to mention, “generic” schooling in CEGEP and university is not for everyone. Just to give an example, I took creative arts programs because I know I would hate learning about political science, social science or mathematics and science courses.
There are also plenty of trade schools available to people in Kahnawake, from construction fields to hairdressing, to interior design and sound recording.
For you older readers (I know there are plenty of you) it is never too late to go back to school or to change careers.
You could have loved your job 10 or 20 years ago but you may not love it now. People change, interests change, and sometimes the job changes.
Take Ted Bird for an example.
He was on radio for so long and was considered one of the most popular radio personalities in Montreal on CHOM Fm Radio. He retired, saying he didn’t enjoy his job like he did in the past.
I wouldn’t want to be doing a job I didn’t love.
Who knows maybe journalism isn’t going to be in my life within five or ten years, maybe I’ll be in jail for attempting to “stick it” to Disney?