What to think about before university

RUIMSIG – It has been over a week since tertiary education students have returned to their institutions, and the countdown has started until this year’s matriculants will begin on the road to their career choice.

Head of the Monash South Africa Foundation Programme, Frikkie Korf, advised parents and matriculants to use this time to hone skills, find what studying technique best suits them and be exposed to different perspectives.

Korf explained that parents could be very involved in this process by giving their children more responsibility to learn how to be more independent.

“Talking and giving your child a lecture is not always the best way. Parents should rather expose their children to different perspectives so they can grow,” he added.

Reabetsoe Buys, an in-house counselling psychologist at the Student Affairs centre at Monash South Africa, added that having a well-planned and balanced life can make all the difference to a matriculant’s performance. Buys said to do this and to pick the correct degree, a matriculant first needed to ask, ‘Who am I?’

“Your career must suit your personality and interests. You must be able to visualise how to get there, and this is where parents can step in to help students explore and research,” Buys explained.

Korf added that job-shadowing could be very beneficial in discovering whether or not your dream job actually would suit you. However, tertiary education is not the only option after high school. Korf explained that if a matriculant did not meet the entry requirements, there were programmes such as the Monash Foundation Programme, which prepared you for tertiary level programmes or degrees.

“Students neglect to look down other avenues such as the FET sector which focuses on practical skills. They must remember they can always study further at another time. Sometimes college is not always the best option for them right now. Students must find something that speaks to them and define success for themselves. It is important to speak to counsellors at institutions such as Monash South Africa to ensure you are getting the best possible guidance regarding your education,” Korf said.

Korf and Buys agreed that this generation was more mobile than any in the past and had the opportunity to work, study and travel overseas, which was another option to explore and could be used to answer the question of, ‘Who am I?’

Become a member of our WhatsApp community by sending your name and surname to 079 439 5345.