UNDERSTANDING MYSELF
By looking inwards
Reflect on skills, strengths, and traits your have or need (These may be helpful in understanding what kinds of careers, courses, and university teaching styles suit you.):
Use your free time/holidays to explore your interests:
By looking outwards
Listen to, talk to, or read about diverse kinds of people with interesting experiences. Reflect on how you feel when you learn about the ups and downs of different jobs.
Advisory SG (Find a mentor or listen to speakers from different industries)
YouTube videos eg. "Day in the life of a ___"
Reach out to seniors or industry professionals to ask questions eg. at ECG events or through LinkedIn
Try to do some self-learning in subjects that you think you may be interested in. Reflect on how you feel and whether you think you would enjoy immersing yourself in these subjects for at least 4 years through university.
eg. If you think you may be interested in computer science, try out free online courses.
eg. If you think you may be interested in neuroscience, try reading a chapter or two from a neuroscience textbook.
Self-help books you may find useful
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Memoir describing life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Based on his own experience and the experiences of others he treated later in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose.
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
"Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that—not talent or luck—makes all the difference."
Anxiety Relief for Teens: Essential CBT Skills and Mindfulness Practices to Overcome Anxiety and Stress by Regine Galanti
How CBT-based skills and mindfulness techniques can help you manage your anxiety and reverse negative patterns. Through simple and effective exercises that help you change your thoughts, behaviors, and physical reactions, this guide gives tools to navigate life's challenges.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey
A simple approach to help teens improve self-image, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve their goals, and appreciate their parents, as well as tackle the new challenges of our time, like cyberbullying and social media.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Success encompasses a balance of personal and professional effectiveness, so this book is a manual for performing better in both arenas.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
A research-grounded dive into the two different mindsets: Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset and why the secret to fulfilling your potential is changing one's mindset from the former to the latter.
Reflection Prompts
Which profile matches YOU best?
Reflection: Determined Danny
“I have one idea.”
What course/career have I been focusing on?
What first got me interested in this course/career?
At this point, why do I want this course/career? What might I like about it?
What are 3 things I might dislike about this course/career?Eg. I’ve been very focused on doing law.
I first got interested because I saw lawyers in movies and dramas and they always seem very cool.
After finding out a bit more, I think I might like defending vulnerable people and bringing wrongdoers to justice. I like meeting people from all walks of life. I’m interested in the history of law and how it has changed over time.
1) Law school sounds really competitive, and I don’t enjoy competitive environments.
2) I don’t think I would feel alright fighting for a case I don’t really believe in, like if I’m defending someone I’m quite sure is actually guilty.
3) Hearing law students’ lectures, tutorials, and examinations just makes me feel “sian”. I prefer more hands-on/project-based assessments.
What are 3 alternative courses/careers I can explore?
(You could think about options that have the same pull factors listed in Q1.)
Eg. I like meeting a diverse range of people, and writing too. Maybe journalism?
Eg. I enjoy working with people, especially lifting up vulnerable people. Maybe I could look at counselling? I’m also interested in nature… What about forest therapy? What if I made a business out of that? Or I could teach. That would be a good way to make use of studying something I enjoy like history at university level.
Eg. I really enjoyed working on spreadsheets and data for my CCA/project. Maybe I can explore jobs in tech or data analytics.
Reflection: Exploring Emma
“I have many ideas.”
List out all the options you are considering.
Try to rank them or give them “points” for how interested you are in them. Explain why.
This could help you eliminate some of the lower options.Eg. Out of 10…
I give 3 points to becoming a singer. I considered it because I like singing for fun but I don’t like the idea of turning my hobby into my job.
9 points to research. I tried it in school and I quite enjoyed it.
4 points to becoming an economist. I considered it because I like learning H2 econs, but after reading job descriptions online I don’t really find it exciting.
What are some unknowns that are preventing me from making a decision?
What can I do to reduce these unknowns (if applicable)?Eg. I don’t know if I’ll enjoy coding so I’m hesitant to decide on studying com sci.
I could try a free online coding course in the June holidays.
Eg. I don’t know what kind of jobs are available in non-profit organisations.
I could try searching LinkedIn for seniors in such organisations. Maybe I can try messaging them questions, or even apply to some organisations for an internship after my A-Levels, or a day of job shadowing during my holidays.
Eg. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a scholarship to fund overseas studies.
I can plan for both possibilities that I do and that I don’t.
Reflection: Relaxed Riley
“I have no idea.”
What are jobs I definitely don’t want to do?
What do I dislike about these jobs?Eg. I don’t want to do jobs that require me to be on call at odd hours (eg. police, healthcare workers in emergency department, child protection officer). → I don’t like having an irregular/unpredictable schedule as it makes it hard to fit in commitments outside of work (eg. spending time with family, pursuing a hobby).
What do I spend most of my free time doing?
What do I enjoy about doing these things?Eg. I draw a lot in my free time.
I like the visual aspect of it.
I like that there is no “correct answer”.
I like the satisfaction of seeing an idea in my head come to life.
What are some options I haven’t ruled out that might require me to start preparing now?
Eg. I’m thinking of doing something related to art.
Maybe I should check if I would need to submit a portfolio.
I could start collating all my artworks and also set aside some time every Saturday evening to work on my art.
Examples of concrete next steps
