Download the activity sheet (pdf, 198 kB)
Aim: To recognise the range of activities available at university and to see university as a lifestyle experience as well as an academic and vocational one.
Objectives: To identify the aspects of life they already enjoy or might like to pursue in the future. To develop awareness of what a university campus offers from academic pursuits to leisure activities and interests. To investigate what is important to personal well-being and happiness. To consider university as a possible part of their personal pathway.
Timing: 30-60 minutes
Notes:
When asked about their future directions, students, even those at the end of their secondary studies, will often say, ‘I have no idea what I want to do’. Having ‘no idea’ when it comes to a work or career choice hinders their thoughts about future directions to pursue in the last few years of school and immediately after secondary school. Studies also show that student ambivalence can have an effect on school retention or make it very difficult to complete secondary schooling to a level that gives students a wide range of options to choose from.
This activity requires students to think about their own personal interests and the areas they might enjoy in the future. However, working together in a small group could also be useful to students in year 10 who need to talk things through to increase their understanding. Discussing their ideas with others can increase their own ideas so that together their options are increased.
Directions:
- Together or individually, students read through the range of activities and interests in the eight boxes
- Next to activities they already do or are interested in pursuing later, students place a tick in column 1 (A)
- Students then use Careers Room resources and the internet to conduct their own web research to discover which of their interests and aspirations could be pursued at university.
- These are ticked in column 2 (B) and perhaps a note is made to show which organisations offer the most suitable options for the individual student. In fact, all of the options given will be available at some universities and there may be many more as well
- Students put together a package of interests and academic areas for study that are offered at university and that they might find interesting to pursue (C).
- Finally, how do students envisage the future for themselves? Students create a ‘wish list’ or ‘package’ of components they would enjoy as part of their long-term vision for themselves. This might include a career, a range of leisure activities and also ‘achievements’ (D). Compare these choices to the interests, activities and areas for academic study that they identified in Question C. Does Uni become part of the pathway to achievement of their long-term goals?