Cube mk2 and WIR

[Scramble]

I'm in Year 9 in school, the year before GCSE in case any of you don't know, and in a few months time I have to choose my options.

 

I'm really stuck on what to choose!

Well, I know to take the subjects that I like and that I'm good at and that can help me with my career, but they're telling us that for our options we should have some idea about what job we want to do when we're older.

And I don't know what.

 

There are a few possiblities that I could consider that sound interesting so far;

Veterinary surgeon

Architect: Buildings

Graphic Design

Animal keeper/welfare :zoo

 

These are things that it says on the website that we've been given, http://www.careerswales.com

 

You click on a letter and it tells you what jobs the are that begin with that letter so, dance teacher under D and Zoology under Z.

 

It not careers in wales, it's just what the Welsh assembly have set up for us welsh schooly types.

 

I was wondering how you all chose your jobs;

For my dad he told me that his friend came into school one day saying he had a job, my dad decided to get one to and now he's some manager for a company that I think has something to do with paint.

He doesn't like it, he chose it because it's work and he gets money for it.

My mum doesn't work, well, as she puts it, she doesn't have a paid job

 

So if you don't mind my asking:

How did you choose what you wanted to do?

And how did you do it?

 

Thanks a lot.

 

x

[Cinnamon]

My eldest daughter did her options 2 years ago & had no idea what she wanted to be (still doesn't ), so we decided it was best to play to her strengths & choose what she enjoyed & was best at.

 

She picked french,german, double ICT & psychology.

 

My youngest is doing them this year,so she must be around your age

She is thinking of some sort of graphics based career, but to be honset at 13 I don't think anyone really knows what career they really want

I think we are going for graphics, art & design,german & history.

 

The school usually throws in a couple of new subjects each year as extras - last year it was Mandarin Chinese

[Geoid]

Forgein Language, always good, apart from that, dont worry too much about it, pick stuff that you would enjoy doing (I picked media - so easy A* here I come )

[rachel19]

To be honest it doesn't matter - most of the careers you stated would require a degree and gcse's really dont impact on this at all, only a' levels do. Do things you enjoy and are good at as grades are probably more important than the subjects themselves.........although my friend at uni had no gcse's apart from maths which he did alongside his a' levels and he's currently doing molecular medicine at uni

[ubereglu]

I'm in Year 11 and I still don't really know what I want to do. Basically I think you should pick a broad range of subjects-we had ours turned into fields, where you could pick one subject from each field-or have two subjects from one field but ditch one of the other fields. It separated it like this:

 

HUMANITIES: History, Geography, (ICT was also put into this one)

CREATIVE ARTS: Art, Music, Drama

TECHNOLOGY: Graphics, Product design, Food Technology, Systems and Control, Textiles

MFL: French, German

 

Well, I vaguely stuck to this and am doing History, French, ICT and Art. This means that you've left your options open, so even though you don't really know what you want to do you can still pick most things-basically you're not closing doors for yourself. Hope that helps a bit!

[kitbag]

I am in year 11 at school, and when it came to choosing my options, I just did my favourite subjects!! I haven't had the smoothest ever school life, but now I am having a really good time at school! I have also met some really cool people with the same interests as me in my classes. If you enjoy what you do at school the chances are you will do better!

 

Good luck choosing your options!!

kitbag xxxxxxxxxxx.

[Ana's flock]

I studied graphic design, French and English. Then I came to England and found out that graphic design is a bit of a 'boys club' and although some of my previous work had won awards, when it came to find another job I was, rather blatantly, told in some circumstances that they thought I could 'not gel with the boys' or 'motivate the lads', or 'be one of the boys, and they were a close team' (in 3 different companies).

 

I hope things have changed when it's your turn to look for work.

 

Languages is always a good option. I also wanted to be a vet when I was a child (having Maths as a compulsory subject for the rest of my life put me off).

 

Although I enjoy what I do (communication skills trainer and teacher of Spanish and ESOL), I came to it via long years of boring typing and PA work. So if I had the choice of going back to uni, I'd definitely go for fashion, textiles, knitwear design ... or painting! I love working with textures and colour.

 

So my advice is: do whatever turns you on the most, what you enjoy, what you love with a passion, and don't let anyone dissuade you to do something boring 'because it'll come handy one day'. So think intensely about the things you like and the one that gets you butterflies in the tummy, and makes you get up from bed in the morning chumping at the bit: that's the one!

 

And all the best for your future - may it be bright and happy!

[ClaireG]

Im 40 this year and still dont really know what i want to do Its always baffled me how they expect a 13 year old to know. I think a language is a good idea and then as the others have said pick things you enjoy.

[jess]

You might as well choose what ever takes your fancy as it is going to change many many times over the course of your life. I am 23 and I still don't know. Besides the job for life notion is dead in the water these days and people retrain all through their life.

 

just live in the moment and do what ever takes your fancy. and try not to worry about the future.

[The Dogmother]

Im 40 this year and still dont really know what i want to do Its always baffled me how they expect a 13 year old to know. I think a language is a good idea and then as the others have said pick things you enjoy.

 

Me too, and I'm 45!

 

Seriously though - I had no idea at that age, so just went for subjects that I enjoyed - there was less tie-in in those days between what you chose as your subjects and what you wanted to do when you left education. I liked languages, geology, art and biology in those days, went on to get a fine art degree. Since then I have worked as a nanny, make up artist, fitness instructor, accounts executive, recruitment manager, export development manager... various other stuff in between, including working abroad... and I now manage a construction consultancy business for the MD. Funny how things pan out

 

Just make sure that you are computer literate and can touch type.. that way you'll never be out of work!

 

Good luck Hon

[Christian]

I picked French, German, Drama, Catering, Biology and Chemistry.

 

English and maths was compulsory.

 

As the jobs you have picked are quite animal based - vet and zoology, I would recommend biology and chemistry.

 

I am now cabin crew, but can tell you the nutritional value of your sandwich, in 3 languages, in the style of a Shakespearian monologue!

 

Pick what you are good at and enjoy! It will all fall into place i'm sure

[craftyhunnypie]

I chose -

 

Chemistry, Biology, Physics, French, Geography, Art.

 

Maths, English Language & Literature & Oral Communication were compulsory. I wanted to be a dentist in those days. Then a microbiologist. I then did A level Chemistry, Biology, Psychology ( which I didn't like) & General Studies. A level Bilogy was good, as we got to go on a marine biology course away from home & around the seashore. I also liked Chemistry - all the experiments. I then did Food science, technology & microbiolgy. Loved the microbiolgy & Science, hated the manufacturing side!

Then got my job in Pathology - Histology, cutting up body parts & processing body fluids. I loved this, but got bullied by my boss. I won't go into detail, but he made made working life hell. Then I moved abroad!. Eventually came back home. Did various temporary jobs & got into office work. Now have own business with hubby making & selling electronic l.e.d machines etc. Totally not what I expected to do when at school....but 10 times better!

So long as you have a job you enjoy & like the money it gives - so what?

 

I don't remember much French, I used to get it muddled with German.

 

But I'd definitely recommend doing a language! Lots of jobs out there for bilingual people.

Personally, I'd recommend German or even Chinese! That's where all the technolgy is! Maybe also a Science or Business Studies sort of Course!

 

Good luck!

 

Emma.x

[Willow]

Your career will change over time - the job I do today didn't exist when I was 13 so best to keep options open. I would agree with others on a language. When I was at school the language option was pushed as being good if you wanted to do translation or air hostess and as I knew I didn't want to be either I didn't worry too much about languages However I have ended up working in technology where any additional language would be useful and I wish I'd put more effort into them earlier.

 

It is worth thinking honestly about what you would want to get out of a job (and again that will change over time)

- money ?

- travel ?

- status ?

- flexibility ?

- work with people ?

- work with animals ?

- want to be in charge ?

...

 

Be realistic in what is possible eg becoming a vet is very popular so only the people with very best grades get accepted at Uni. And the course is very long. But if you have a dream keep trying for it as that is the best motivator.

 

Check what impact different GCSE choices would have on what A-levels you can take. And if you have the option of separate sciences and think you may want to do something related take the separate sciences rather than combined option.

 

I may get shot down in flames here but you are much less likely to find you later need subjects like geography and history GCSE than you are to find you needed a science.

 

Applies also to 'non-traditional' media studies etc. Many Universities still prefer the traditional subjects whereas you should be aware schools often like students to take the non-traditional options as it is easier to get a good grade so their stats look better.

 

Also be prepared to change as you go. I changed degree course when I realised I could not face years of maths, it meant I took an extra year but it was worthwhile. I got one job because I went for an unsuitable interview for interview practice and realised half-way through that it sounded interesting - and it was. After 7 years there I went back to the company I'd left and the manager I'd been considering working for when I left but in a very different role.

 

What subjects are you thinking of doing ?

[Scramble]

Thanks guys!

That's really a big help, my best friend has already decided she wants to be a doctor or architect!

or just marry a rich guy!

 

I think she's joking that's the kind of thing she does, plus the fact that she's a lot smater than her boyfriend so she says she's going to have to be the one with the well paid job.

 

 

I've been thinking of taking

 

Art

Graphic Design

I.T

English- have to

Maths-have to

Physics-have to

Biology-have to

Chemistry-have to

French or German, can't decide I like them both!

NOT Welsh - I hate it!!!!!

 

I'm not sure what options we can actually choose yet as we don't have the papers yet, but that's the generally idea. There may be more to come.

 

My sister is year 11 taking some GCSEs at the moment, she's a bit to live up to tho

So far after a couple of mini exams from their science teachers, her class now has the equivalent of 1 science GCSE each.

She got A* full marks in every one.

 

.....

 

 

hope I do okay on mine, but reading things you've said on her it's A levels,

So I'm gonna work real hard, yeh hear!?

 

Thanks a lot you've put my mind at ease.

x

[Janty]

I also chose subjects that I enjoyed doing for my options (although they were called 'o' levels when I was a girl). I figured that I didn't want to end up doing something that I didn't enjoy so I chose what I liked.

 

I was never going to be a teacher...I hated children and never had any inentions of going anywhere near them.

 

Originally I wanted to be a fashion designer specialising in wedding dresses. I was obsessed with this idea from about six years old. I went to college to do this and quickly found that it wasn't my sort of thing. I changed to graphics and then specialised in animation.

 

When I was doing my graphic design and animation degree at college we were expected to go into a local school one day a week to do animation with the year 11s and year 12s. I didn't want to do it. I even complained to the principle of the college, stating that if I had wanted to be a teacher then I would have enrolled on one of their teacher training courses. I was told to get on with whatever my lecturer had told me to do and get myself into the school. I loved it. So much so that when I was working as an animator in London, eight hours a day at a drawing board and wondering how I would get through the days not speaking to anybody, etc., I decided to retrain as a teacher. The paperwork is pants but I love the teaching.

 

Don't narrow yourself down at this stage. Keep your options open. I would never have dreamt that I would be doing the job that I do. My family all thought that I was joking when I said that I was going to teacher training college.

[Geoid]

If the ICT is CIDA, don't take it! trust me, people in my year that have taken it says its really boring.

[Scramble]

My sister told me the same thing, as that's what some of her friends are saying...

 

I have no idea if it's CIDA, I'm taking it anyway, but I need to look over my options, so I'll think about.

 

Thanks

x

[Krysia]

DO what you want to do or enjoy.

 

I am 30 and doing ok (we live comfortably and about to have our second child) but like some of the others I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up.

 

I did ok at GCSE (9A-C and 2 D's) but totally failed my A-levels (N U and E) I tried to live up to my brother and went down the maths / science route.

 

Had I stuck to the options I chose at GCSE (Rather than the compulsory ones) like Home ec and business studies I probably would have done better and be doing a job relating to that but who knows.

 

Life is short do something you want to do and always look for the positive if something goes wrong.

 

Good luck

[Milly]

At school when I had to choose what to do at age 13 I wanted to be a doctor, so I chose Physics and Chemistry (plus Latin, French, English, Maths,History - it was in Scotland where you do lots of subjects anyway).

 

Bt the time I left school I had changed my mind and went to university to do Archaeology, with an interest in the Middle East. At university I changed focus to the Middle East and dropped Archaeology.

 

So - you aren't bound forever by what you choose at age 13! Or even what you do at university.

 

Milly

[Geoid]

My sister told me the same thing, as that's what some of her friends are saying...

 

I didn't take it, and according to you, im the comp genius

[Looney]

Ooh, I remember having this dilemma when choosing my GCSE subjects (many moons ago, I'm now 30 ).

 

I chose French, History, Geography and Art because they were all subjects that I enjoyed and was reasonably good at. I actually got my lowest grade for Art mind you, but I still got a C and enjoyed the course.

 

For A levels I took Biology, Chemistry and French and took GCSE Spanish as well. I then went on to do a French and Spanish degree.

 

If you are interested in languages, it is worth picking one as an option. Once you drop language at GCSE it is very hard to try and take A-level etc etc etc. I was very good at German but didn't choose it as I couldn't stand the teacher and didn't think I'd be able to put up with her for two years.

 

I remember thinking it was ridiculous that I was expected to have an idea what job I wanted to do when I was only 13! Also had the same when trying to choose my A levels!

 

Good luck, trust your own judgement as it will be you that has to put all the hard work in.

[laurmurf]

Hi Scramble

I work in HR (human resources) and I am not really happy in it but i've been doing it a long time and, as it's part time, it suits my family.

 

I originally worked as an archaeologist and museum curator after doing archaeology and English at university - i left it behind for a more 'sensible' job in HR. My husband stayed in archaeology and still loves going into work every day, considers it a bonus that he gets paid for doing what he loves and gets to work with other professional people who love what they do too.

 

My ED is in year 13 and now choosing universities. It's a shame that she made overly sensible choices at GCSE, then at A level (bio, chem, physics and psych) and didn't give herself more 'fun' and creativity in her studies: she's missing it now. She wants to work in pathology labs so she needed the sciences, but wishes she kept art on for her own benefit.

 

My YD, hellymisscloud, is in year 10 - we had the same discussions you are having now. Originally she wanted to be a vet too and that was covered by her compulsory subjects. She's always loved creative subjects too so chose: Art, DT resistant materials, history and imedia (a diploma course in fun, interactive and creative IT media- like gaming design and photoshop). Since her choices she's thinking lots more about product design, combining the creativity of art and the DT elements: she's been fascinated by the development of the eglu and cube especially, since that's where the Omlet 4 started off (apparently doing MAs in product design).

 

Helly says that it's really important to do subjects that you enjoy - cause you'll end up doing well in those subjects and that will lead onto doing other things you enjoy.

 

My message is do what you love and with inspired and inspiring teachers.

 

Good luck - I'll be so keen to hear about your decision!

[KimmyCustard]

Scramble,

 

I'm a civilian working for the Met Police and none of my qualifications mean a thing to my job! I did maths, English, chemistry (hated it, teacher was as mad as a box of frogs), biology, French (loved it), childcare and then did a year in 6th form (as it was then!) doing a BTEC qualification in Business Studies. I passed them all but a career with the police is really what you gain from experience of life rather than anything on paper. I now get paid for talking to people all day, a job my Mother says I was made for (what can she mean!?)

 

I did work for British Gas for 10 years as well, doing customers accounts and was bored rigid in the end (best thing about that job was the pub at the end of the road ). OH doesnt have one single qualification to his name (awful childhood - long story) but he has been a PC for 7 years and studying for his Sergeant's exam next year. He loves it and as long as the public are on this Earth, the police will have a job so no redundancies there!

 

Good luck with your decision, wish I had done an A level in French, now that would have got me a looooooong way in my job!

 

Kimmy

x

[Lisa]

Hi Scramble

 

Decisions decisions - I am one of those strange people who knew exactly what they wanted to be at 13!! However I had to take my options at 11! Geog, Hist, Eng, Maths were compulsory then. I chose a wide range of subjects including physics, biology, art, french and german.

 

I did do the job I had wanted to do and then had to change for various reasons. Since then I have had a number of jobs and two children. I went to Uni at 30 and now am a science teacher!!

 

You are not fixed in what you do so make a balanced choice of subjects you enjoy. You will not succeed well if you do not enjoy what you are doing!!

 

Keep smiling,

[Hen Watch]

Not many people know what job they want to do at your age, and don't let teachers worry you into thinking you must decide.

 

When you get older, different oportunities come your way, and you may only find something you like later on.

 

I'm 39 and back in the stone age, our school had one computer. It had a really old program which told us what job we were suited to. Mine came up with prison officer, nurse (I hate blood) and estate agent

 

A broad range of subjects would be good. If you are good at them I would say a science and a language too.

 

In my day we had to take 1 science and I was rubbish at all of them. So why I followed my teachers advice and take up both chemistry and physics (when I only got 29% in both exams) I will never know. I got really bad science exam grades and I think back now I feel I wasted those options and wish I'd taken 2 subjects I would have passed well (any subjects actually).

 

Your choices are important but also enjoying school and doing well in subjects you enjoy is also important.

 

This is not a cop out, but if when you are older that you want to do a profession that needs a certain GCSE, then go and do it at night school. I was working in my first job (so only 19 or so) and I quite fancied myself as a lawyer. So I enrolled at evening college, one 2 hour lesson every Monday for a year and I passed my A level Law easily. The difference being, I wanted to do it, I was working so not at school and not clouding my brain with other subjects. Funnily enough I loved the A level but went off the lawyer idea so just goes to show you can change your mind even at 19......or 39....... or older.

 

Best of luck choosing.