Written by Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws student, Becci Tannenbaum.
Dear Year 10 Me,
This is the year it all changed…. the year Netflix arrived in Australia! But even bigger, it’s the year you started your senior studies.
Everything may seem overwhelming now. It may seem as though you are making decisions that will change your path forever, but just remember that now is your time. It is your time to choose what you want to be, where you want to be, and most importantly, who you want to be. The future is yours and so grab it by the horns and face it head on. Will you start a company in Silicon Valley, work for a top law firm in London, or be inhouse counsel at an ASX listed company in Sydney? The decisions you make now will steer you in the direction to be any of these amazing versions of yourself.
Should I choose Japanese or Modern History? Where do I want to study? What prerequisites do I need to complete? The most irritating part about all these questions is that it feels like you are the only person who can answer them. Whilst this is partly true, because as I said this is YOUR time, don’t be afraid to reach out - talk to your parents, your careers advisor or even the unis you are interested in. Everyone wants to help you on your path to the incredible you. Just remember, that at the end of the day what you pick needs to be something you are energised to get up and do every day.
No matter how stressful everything gets remember that it’s the little moments that stick with you. The time you spend playing with Grade 1, the lunch times you spend endlessly laughing with your friends or cheering your house on at swimming carnivals. These experiences build your character and give you wings to fly as you leave school and embark on your next chapter. Enjoy every moment and leave school with no regrets. As you embark on your final two years at school take on every opportunity because they will be with you forever. From partaking in the musical (even though you have no singing abilities) to holding a leadership role, these experiences will not only be valuable to your university applications but will be the memories that make you smile when you look back on High School.
It is not just the experiences that you take on at school, but it is the unique opportunities that will make you stand out as you enter university and the work force. Whilst it may seem like a lot of work now, attending Experience Days, volunteering within the community, and being a Student for a Semester will pay off in adding depth to your character. Student for a Semester will give you a taste of what the future is by trying on for size the uni lifestyle and your program content (so don’t miss the registration deadline!). Even better, it will give you a credit towards your degree which I am loving right about now!
You’ve got this! Don’t doubt your decisions because even though it may not feel like it now, you know what you are doing. People ask me all the time if I (or should I say we – you and me) would change anything about my career path and I always answer no! I love what I do every day at uni because it is what I am passionate about and I am accomplishing what I have dreamt about for years. I still get a sense of excitement every time I walk into court and that is how I know I am still living the dream.
In the wise words of Dr Seuss “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”
Love,
Me
Thriving. Passionate. Lawyer-to-be.
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