Dreamer

Good afternoon dreamers!

After a June filled with many, many activities, that I will share this week, I finally come in front of you with a seasonal topic.

No, I’m not talking about the holidays and summer, but about future plans!

June, the first summer month is marked by some endings: middle school, high school, college, master’s, and so on. The educational system is created this way in most of the world’s parts.

Last year I marked this moment with 10 tips for graduates. Today, I want to address some words to those who haven’t decided yet!

When everyone shares words of wisdom, I am here with some words of practicality. While I’m not the oldest, yet not exactly the youngest teacher, neither for high school nor college, and I activate in this system from both sides, I think I can provide little cheat codes for those who haven’t finished the learning journey yet!

• It’s always better to start a new learning journey than to simply stay.
• A degree matters! I’ve seen passionate kids in the kitchen, I’ve seen kids who deserve to go to college. And I’ve seen kids that earned their own money and got lost. I’m not saying to stop working and earn your money if you are on this path! All I am saying is that any degree matters in the future, so do your best to finish your school.
• Learning doesn’t stop when you finish school. Learning is continuous until your last breath so be open to it.
• The friends you make in school might not be around forever, so be prepared.
• Grades don’t matter that much when you get a job, but if you are still in school, you’ll get a scholarship, tax-free tuition, free transportation, free meals, and many other benefits depending on the school.
• Most of the time, your family only wants what’s best for you, so please try to understand where they stand when they compare you. Times change, generations change, but the core is the same: love.
• Teachers come, teachers go. Some of us want to be there, some of us don’t. It’s as simple. But we are here to teach you. If you are lucky you might find a friend in us.
• And if we talk about teachers: they know shit so don’t be a smartass.
• Volunteering is good for your resume.
• Internships and part-time jobs can be a fun killer, but it’s easier to find a job when you have some experience on file.
• Diversity, Diversity, Diversity. Many say to niche down, to become an expert in your field. I say to be open to new things and to broaden your horizons.
• How you dress is important. And I’m not saying to dress office in a kitchen. I am saying to dress for your part, and if your job doesn’t have a dress code, remember shorts are too casual for work. Try something smart-casual.
• Keep your CV updated! Have a copy of your latest resume on hand, but also when you apply to jobs, use my friend’s method, and personalize it. She discovered that she wasn’t called because she appeared overqualified, so she started to take off skills and things, like her master’s and Ph.D.
• Friendships will pale. And you’ll make some others. I love to think that some friendships last forever, but most of them are actually for a big chunk of our lives.
• Your job will be like high school only with bigger expectations and meaner people.
• You’ll have the choice of doing the work for others and doing only your part. For your career, it is better to do the extra work until you reach your 30’s. After that, for both your health and career is better to do only your part.
• The beauty of the post-graduation is what scares us the most” the unexpected”. I didn’t plan on becoming a teacher, yet I have four years of experience now.
• Your health should be your priority.

These are only some thoughts that I think will make your journey easier if you start to incorporate into your mindset as soon as possible!

As for the rest? Enjoy the rest of your life!

#adreamerlife

Cristiana Apreutese