Students today are growing up in a world of opportunity. Traditional jobs are changing; and new career options are breaking through across most industries. However, these changes bring with them a new pressure on senior high school students: the pressure to decide. A 16-year-old may feel the weight of decisions about their entire future on their shoulders, and all while they're trying to get the marks they need to keep opportunities open. If that's you, maybe this will help!

The Japanese concept of 'Ikigai' (meaning 'a reason for being') is of a search for meaning and purpose in life; and is a helpful lens for viewing future career decisions. It looks at the balance between four questions:

What do I love?
What am I good at?
What does the world need?
What can I get paid for?

Ikigai proposes that the intersection of these 4 questions is a place of balance, where a purposeful and fulfilling work life can be found. Students, or those who are close to them, tend to prioritise some questions over others. A person with aspirations for wealth may tend to neglect one area for the sake of that, and end up feeling unfulfilled. Someone with a strong sense of social justice may neglect what they really enjoy doing and end up in a career out of obligation. Ideally, senior students will be able to find something that they love, are good at, the world needs, and can be financially viable.

Part of our goal here at Ascension Education is to help students to answer some of these questions through our Pathways Programs. Whether a student finds out that they really love an area of study, or that they really dislike it, that's a win! We want to help senior students to make informed decisions about university study, and to help them on their way to discovering ikigai in their life!

Over the 8th and 9th of May, the inaugural Pathways Programs were held at Brisbane Boys' College. Students participated in either the Pathways to Medicine or the Pathways to Business program, and had the opportunity to experience first hand what it is like to study in these areas.

Pathways to Medicine: Two students learn to take blood pressure as a practical experience of medical study. — **Pathways to Medicine:** Two students learn to take blood pressure as a practical experience of medical study.

The programs were well received, with students reporting an increase in how confident they felt about their future study decisions from 66% to 78% after completion.

Students gave an average rating of 9.2/10 for the Pathways to Business program when asked: "how beneficial has this program been in deciding your future career path." The Pathways to Medicine program was rated 8.6/10, both being very well received.

But don't just take our word for it! Here is what students have to say:

"It was a perfect balance of information and activities." - Jun, Year 11

"Breaking business down into its components made it easier for me to decide what career I want to pursue." - Will, Year 11

"The practical aspects of the program gave me a deeper insight into medicine." - Anton, Year 12

"It was extremely beneficial to hear what actually happens [at uni] from someone who has already done it." - Connor, Year 11

"This really put medicine and university into perspective." - Ethan, Year 11

"It was great to learn about different pathways through a practical experience." - Lachlan, Year 11

We are very much looking forward to the next round of programs, which will be coming soon, so watch this space!!

Ikigai: a reason for being

The Pathways Program Launch