You’ve picked out a new school bag, found that tie you lost in June and you’re making the most of the last hours of summer. It’s that time of year again and we’re back to school!
A new school year can be a lot to get your head around. There are new timetables to get to grips with, lessons to learn and teachers’ names to remember. You’ll also be picking your options choices, thinking about a Foundation Apprenticeship or deciding what to do at the end of the school year.
It’s also the perfect time to set yourself some goals. What do you want to achieve this year? Is there something you’d like to improve or try for the first time? The start of term is a chance to reset, refocus and think about where you want to go next.
The important thing to remember is that you don’t need to figure any of this out on your own.
Every state secondary school in Scotland has a dedicated careers adviser. Their job is to help you explore your strengths, find out what you enjoy and understand how these can shape your future. They’re here to listen, guide and make sure you’ve got the information you need to make confident choices to help you identify what you’re good at and how this could help you in the future.
Don’t wrestle with decisions on your own. This year, set yourself one simple goal: find out who your careers adviser is and say hello. We promise they’re not scary and in fact, they love helping pupils just like you.
You can always check out My World of Work, the online careers website that has some fun tools you can use like My Achievements which helps tracks your successes, reflect on what you’ve accomplished and discover what motivates you. There is also the Find Your Strengths section that can help you highlight what you’re good at and how to write it into your CV.
If you’d prefer to chat sooner, call the careers advice helpline on 0800 917 8000.
Good luck with the new school year. You’ve got this!