What’s your plan for life after high school? Or are you, like so many students across the country, so focused on escaping the school gates that the next chapter feels like a problem for another day?

 It’s okay not to know what you’ll do after high school. It’s also okay if you’re feeling too burnt out after your final exams to even think about it. What matters is that you have a plan to be productive in the next few years. 

 Some stark realities you’ll need to get to grips with as a young South African leaving school include: 

  • South Africa has the highest unemployment rate in Africa. 
  • South African graduates are struggling to find jobs.

So if you don’t yet know what to do after you matriculate, instead of applying to a tertiary institution, here are some alternatives that are worth exploring: 

 

Gain work experience 

Most students would have been too busy with homework and assignments to have had the capacity to take on a part-time job while completing their schooling. So once you’ve matriculated, start applying for those jobs. 

You may want to find something that’s in line with your current interests, but you’ll gain invaluable experience irrespective of which field you end up working in. 

 

Here are some options to consider if you’re matriculating this year: 

  • Sales assistant or cashier: You’ll sharpen your people skills by assisting customers and handling sales transactions. 
  • Receptionist or administrative clerk: You’ll learn about data entry, filing, answering phone calls and more, in addition to improving your confidence when you greet and direct visitors to where they need to go. 
  • Learnerships and apprenticeships: You can find organizations that allow you to gain practical work experience and offer structured learning that leads to qualifications.
  • Companies and organizations such as BP, Standard Bank, and MerSETA are great places to reach out to even if you’re currently unsure of which direction to take.
  • Hospitality: Working as a server, barista, or desk clerk at a hotel will give you a sense of responsibility and help you improve your communication and people skills which will come in handy no matter what career you eventually pick. 
  • Education and tutoring: Did you excel at certain subjects in high school? You may be able to offer private tutoring to students who struggle or you could sign up to be a teaching assistant. 
  • Content creator: Instead of mindlessly scrolling through TikTok, why not create some valuable content on the platform? Do you have a skill or a hobby you’re good at that you’d like to share with the world? Create an account, build your own brand, and learn how to make money using social media. 

 

The end of high school is your chance to build a brighter beginning 

Graduating high school doesn’t just mark the end of an era — it’s also the start of something entirely your own. It’s your chance to explore a new path and pursue your passions. 

 Whether you decide to apply at a college or university, enter the workforce immediately, or take a gap year to learn a brand new skill, this moment is filled with potential. 

 Don’t just move forward — now’s the time to launch into a brighter, bolder beginning and build a future you can be proud of.

 

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