I wish I had some bubblegum. Bubblegum always helps me make decisions. Three years ago when I was fifteen I was tasked with choosing subjects for senior school. Well, now I’m choosing courses for next year. I’m in year twelve at the moment and I am trying to make the decision on whether to follow my dream and gain certification as an NDIS high intensity support worker or if I follow a conventional healthcare path like my parents recommended.
The former will lead me to TAFE and the latter will lead me to university. I don’t value one of those above the other (TAFE or university – I mean) but my parents want me to go to university. They said I can go to uni and study science and then get my Masters in support work once I’ve done my initial degree. I understand why they would think that is a good idea but it just means my path to support work will take so much longer. Why wouldn’t I just earn my relevant certificates straight after school and be a support worker in a year or so, rather than six years? It’s hard being so young and having to make my own decisions but then having people (my parents) weighing in on everything I want to do. I don’t know how to exercise independence when they won’t let me.
You know what, I’m going to do it. I’m going to choose the direct path towards becoming a nurse who works at local SDA housing near the Adelaide area. I’m going to go to TAFE and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. I will need to be able to make tough decisions when working in such a high-intensity career and I often won’t have help at the exact moment that I need it. That’s why I need to make this decision for myself. If I can’t make tough decisions now, I’ll struggle even more for tougher decisions down the track.