What should we do?

[Si Civa]

There's couple days left of this year. But I would rather talk about the new year, about the future, because I should have an idea about one thing. It's not that serious or big question in the end, but well, I suppose that I should start thinking that what the hell I'm going to do after high school.
Yup, one of those threads.


The problem for me is that I really don't know what I would like to study after high school other than political history, there's nothing else that I'm interested in that much. Oh, and I'm not even sure if I'm interested about political history either. Really, I've no clue at all what to do. But then again, I'm young, very young if compared to the most of active forum goers, so how in the bloody hell should I know what to do with my life anyway?

There's one problem with poltical history though: you can study it only in Helsinki or Turku in Finland, so basically, there's only two universities where to apply if I really want to study it. Of course, as I live in EU, I could easily apply to study political history elsewhere in Europe. However, I don't think I've right personality or languange skills for that*. :/

*I seriously think that I'm afraid of people or something, though I'm getting over it little by little. It's like I'm growing up or something. And I know, I really know, that going to another country might actually help me to become more social and better at languanges, but, but, aaaaaah!

Anyway, I've actually one year to think about these things as I'm going to do civilian duties instead of going army, but it would be rather nice to know still whatI would do with my life.


And I guess that everybody who has no clue what to do with their lives could write in this thread to seek help and clues or even more questions and other people could help them in their silly ways. Very original and radical idea, isn't it?

[Bailey]

Well, if you go with political and tactical history, and then stick with the army, I'm sure they'd love to have you.

[Si Civa]

That is very good idea, but it just doesn't suit me, as I'm not that big fan of army. I know that it's needed, but the system we have here in Finland just isn't any good in my naive opinion.

Army just rubs me wrong way, otherwise that would be like the best tip I've ever been given about studying. And I mean it.

[Toast]

My advice would be to go to a university and take a few classes, see what sparks your interest most. Also keep in mind that if you do go for one thing, nothing says you can't change your mind later.

I certainly understand the feeling of not knowing what you want to do with your life. I'm working on a masters degree in psychology and I still have no clue what I want to do. The journey is why I'm doing it, a marketable set of skills and a piece of paper that says I've been in school a certain number of years are basically immaterial. At best, they're icing on the cake.

[bluestarultor]

Take a good look at what you're good at. And I don't mean school subjects. Or at least not directly. I kind of was convinced to go into pharmacy because I was always very good with science. Sadly, math is my worst subject, and pharmacy, for whatever reason, requires a LOT of math to go along with it, so while I had the basic concepts of the science down, I couldn't hack the math to make the practical applications.

On the other hand, one thing everyone overlooked is that I've always been great with language, possibly even more so than science. Programming is all about language, with a bit of basic math thrown in, and suits me much better.

Figure out what your natural talents are and then look into what you can apply them to. If you're having trouble with one thing, take a few classes for other things and see if they work out better. Had I not taken a beginning programming class on a whim, I wouldn't be where I am now.



Just a few ideas of talents to think of:
- math
- art
- language
- science
- memorization (history, anatomy, psychology, etc.)
- working with people
- music
- mechanics/puzzles/problem-solving
- public speaking/performing

Take your top two or three, or one you're really good at and one you can get by with, and see what jobs fit. For example:

problem-solving + working with people = computer support/help desk
public speaking + memorization = lawyer
math + art = architect

[Nique]

But then again, I'm young, very young if compared to the most of active forum goers

Ouch. That hurt me right in my fake hip.

[Si Civa]

Originally Posted by Nique

Ouch. That hurt me right in my fake hip.

Dye your hair, Mr Grey-Locks.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

This is late and I'm away but I have a degree in history and my ex-flatmate is a political historian so if you want to know things about what a degree in history (politial or otherwise) entaiols and things I'll be happy to help.

[Osterbaum]

Well I study biology, currently I am majoring in animal physiology and getting minor subjects from microbiology, biochemistry and a third undecided one. Any questions about that and I could help.

I am not dissapointed with my choice(, although sometimes I wonder how much of the fun in my faculty is because of the people there). But I still sometimes wonder if history would be more my thing after all. When I decided where to apply it was a tough choice between biology and history, although I was somewhat interested in psychology aswell. In any case, I ended up choosing biology for a few reasons: The material for the entry exam was material I was already familiar with (not that I didn't have to study it again anyway), secondly I figured that history was something that I could keep up an interest for and still read on in my free time. Whereas biology isn't exactly something you'd read up just for fun, not to mention that you wouldn't have acces to labs.

Also, it doesn't matter if you don't get where you wanted on the first try. On my first try I got a place at University of Oulu, but I wasn't satisfied. So I applied again the next year, and got to Helsinki where I had wanted to get from the beginning. One "extra" year isn't going to matter that much on the grand skale of your life.

[Si Civa]

Well, like I said, I will have a free year anyway because of civilian duties, so if I don't get where I want next summer, I can wait till 2011 to apply again, woo! Or maybe even till 2012, who knows!

But yeah, getting at least somewhere is important. The problem just is that I don't know where else to apply. And as you mentioned psychology Oster, well, it's always an option for me too, though I'm not that thrilled about psychology anymore.


As for political history, I think that any good book about Finnish history where the timeline is from 1809 to this day could be helpful, because both Turku and Helsinki will have entrance examination about Finnish history about that period. I've read older version of the book what they're going to test in Helsinki, so I've some sort of knowledge about that. Then I've actually read introduction book to political history, which they have used in university of Helsinki, so yeah.

Oh, and because Finnish highschool system has YO, which could be said to be some sort of voluntary final exam, and I'm going to write history in spring, so I'm going to read at least school books about history, which is kind of helpful or not. I might get confused.

Also thing that is totally not going to happen is that if I get really, really good grade in math, I can go study mathematics probably anywhere I want in Finland. 'Cause that's how the system works.