Top 5 Things To Know Before Entering University or “The Real World”

As our seniors wrap up their final year of high school and begin their new path ahead—whether it may be university, a gap year, or straight into the job market—it’s important to learn a few essential. Here is a list of things to look out for:

1. Job Profile (Resume and CV) Many high school students never receive a crash course on a resume or CV building. In fact, it is an essential part of securing a job or almost any kind of opportunity. A resume helps show an employer one’s experience, accomplishment, education, skills, and more. It also helps an applicant or candidate stand out compared to the rest. For example, if you are applying for a marketing part-time job post-high-school, it may be recommended to have past experiences such as a summer marketing internship or a certificate from an online college-level marketing course. On the other hand, CVs include the career objectives of a candidate as well as what unique benefits they can bring to that specific job or role.
2. Networking It is important to manage one’s internet profile, especially on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. As expected, the key rule is to ensure that all posts are appropriately selected in the case that an employer or a networking fellow checks out one’s public profile. By maintaining a professional appearance online, it communicates maturity and reliability on many levels to the viewer. For specific majors or career focuses, such as graphic design or social media strategy, it is important to leverage one’s internet profile to showcase unique skills or talent.
3. Budgeting Spending is easy, but saving can be a challenge. For example, adopt the 50-30-20 rule, where 50% of income is allocated to necessities such as food and taxes, 30% is allocated to wants such as shopping or eating out, and 20% is saved (college fund, insurance, etc.).
4. Emergencies and First Aid In accordance with the prior point, income savings come in handy when one encounters certain emergencies, such as an immediate plane flight home to take care of ill family members or health insurance due to a road accident. Conflicts and unexpected things occur in the day-to-day, so one must always prepare just in case of situations such.
5. Mental Health Prioritizing one’s mental health should be a top priority for everyone. If mental health is not taken care of, it may demotivate, increase stress, or release other symptoms that may cause disruptions in one’s daily routine and life.

Armed with advice, current senior Vikisha G. shared her opinions on actions to partake in during high school. “You should participate in different activities and clubs to have a more well-rounded portfolio and job profile [during high school]. Also, choose classes that work towards your future major so that you can seem more competent and knowledgeable regarding that area.”

In accordance with the argument on mental health, senior Robert Y. gave his suggestion to fellow seniors. “Before going to college, get enough rest in the summer break and get ready for the next adventure.”

It is crucial to note that there are still many aspects that one needs to learn such as chores, investing, and how to avoid debt, hence this is not the entire list of things to know. All in all, the main point is to always remain vigilant and adaptive to the world.