Moving on to new studies is the answer

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NEW VISTAS: The Apple Mac is the way it is because Steve Jobs changed courses. If I had never dropped in on that calligraphy course in college, the Mac would never have had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts, he later explained. Picture: REUTERS/Petr Josek

By all means go ahead and change your study plans. But before you do so – and before you drop out – make sure you can “drop in’’ somewhere else instead, cautions Kerry Damons of Boston City Campus & Business College.

“You wouldn’t leave home without having an alternative place to stay,” she points out, “or leave your job without having found an alternative way to earn your daily bread. So if there is good reason to do so, consider changing your present studies. But also be practical and have a plan of action for the future.”

Council for Higher Education statistics show that 40 percent of those who enrol at higher education institutions never get a qualification, while 50 percent of that same group will take five years to graduate. About a third of those assisted by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme drop out, with a further third completing their degrees much later than they should.

Halfway through the year is the time when students start dropping out by the hundreds. They realise they have chosen a course of study which does not suit them. Others have run out of money and can no longer afford to continue studying. And then there are those who simply don’t have what it takes to pass the studies they have chosen. Whatever the reason may be, this is the time of the year when dropping out escalates and students have to start over.

“Let’s not pretend that starting over is easy,” says Damons. “But let’s look at what you need to do to turn things around and succeed in starting over.”

Firstly you have to deal with your emotions because dropping out can be quite a traumatic experience that leaves you feeling like a failure and feeling lost. Damons suggests you get help in dealing with your emotions – you can speak to your doctor, your parents, friends, student counsellors and psychologists where necessary.

Then you need to get back to basics – take an aptitude test to see what other careers or courses would be well suited to you; do job shadowing if you’re not sure what certain careers entail; and go and see a trained career adviser to get objective career guidance.

Indeed, getting proper career guidance is crucial. In a study released at the end of 2011, researchers at the University of KwaZulu-Natal found that poor choice of careers, poor matric results, a lack of guidance or no guidance at all were the main reasons why students drop out.

According to Damons, you need to take a reality and an honesty check: an option could be to improve your matric marks or do a bridging course. Or maybe consider finding an apprenticeship or a similar learn-while-you-earn training opportunity.

“Honesty is the best policy,” she says. “Only you know what you are passionate about and what your dreams are made of. You need to choose a career and a course of study for yourself – don’t let others choose on your behalf.”

She also believes that it is best to enrol for further studying or training as soon as possible after dropping out so that you don’t lose heart or lose momentum.

“It helps you keep a positive outlook and not succumb to feelings of disappointment or incompetence,” she explains. “It is also easier to continue your studies while your brain is still in learning mode and a study routine is still second nature to you. Fortunately you can enrol for a considerable number of courses at this time of the year as many educational institutions, like Boston, have midyear registrations.”

Whether you are considering a study change or first-time studies, Boston City Campus & Business College invites you to make use of its computerised Career Compass assessment programme so you can discover your interests, talents and skills and get back on track with your studies.

Tips on getting back on track:

lGet help in dealing with emotions; get professional assistance where needed.

lMove as quickly as possible from dropping-out to dropping-in mode.

lMake a list of what went wrong and keep this list handy so you don’t make the same mistakes again – this will ensure you don’t drop out when the going gets tough.

lSee it not as dropping out but rather as a change of direction.

lTake aptitude tests even if you have taken them before.

lGet as much career guidance as possible. Boston offers career guidance free of charge as part of the college’s corporate social investment, visit www.boston.co.za to find out more.

lDo job shadowing to find out more about jobs that you didn’t consider previously.

lChoose for yourself – don’t let others choose a course of study or a career for you.

lEnrol for alternative studies as soon as possible so you don’t lose study momentum.

lBe honest – full-time studying is not always possible for everyone. Look for apprenticeships, learnerships and similar learn-while-you-earn opportunities.

lGo back to school to improve your marks, if necessary.

lDraw up a plan of action to guide you and keep you on track well into the future. Use the plan as your career blueprint so you can measure your progress from enrolment day until graduation day and beyond.

lDraw up a financial plan of how you can finance your studies further.

lFind a mentor or someone who can provide you with support and guidance.

lStay motivated by looking at how others have gone from drop-outs to successful leaders: businessmen, scientists and so on, like Einstein and Steve Jobs to mention but two.