Tips for Form 5 Students (Good News 2)

A Form 5 student is feeling confused or kind of 'disoriented' when s/he is making decisions, be it concerning with subject choice or school choice for AS or A Level, after receiving the Hong Kong School Certificate from the school.   

Congratulations! it is normal, typical and no harm at all.  The fact that both primary and secondary school education has not prepared the school-aged students to make adequate decisions to optimize their chance for academic, social, career and life success, causes so much stress and suffering.   

It is not necessary for young adults to go through that much pain.  Struggling with decision making, even without appropriate training to manage this stage of personal growth, has waken up so many young people from a 'examination-driven' educational environment of schools.  And these young people, after receiving their CERT, are expected to make adequate decisions for themselves without much nurturing or capacity building on self understanding, options exploration, interests search and knowledge about Person-environment fit.... Overnight, they become grown ups, at least they are expected to be.

The good news is..... in the long run, a life-long learner has to merge individual interests, intellectual ability, problem solving skills, field experience, friendship experiences, and advanced training to transform into a unique skill set, special tools and expertise to serve the wider community.  

My experience is to FOLLOW your genuine interests.  Only by doing so, you can earn as much professional and personally relevant information and accumulate powerful network and expertise to stand on your own feet, stand up for a meaningful course, speak up for those you serve and grow up as a person with integrity and inner fulfillment.

Don't worry about the confusion, lack of confidence and even kind of 'disorientation', we are all like that at different times of our life.  It is okay.  It is normal. You will be fine.  Inner directions? Clear direction?  No one can give you the right answer.  This is a very personal question.  Nonetheless....

Mother Theresa once said that our inner direction is where we experience the deepest inner joy.