Like many Canadian students, Raina Cyrus is unsure whether she should go to university, learn a trade or take a gap year this fall. ‘I think it’s good to keep an open mind.’Supplied
In this series, Sliding Doors, we explore real-life crossroads that shape personal ambition: Take the leap or play it safe? Move forward or pivot? We talk to real people facing real-life decisions and speak to experts about the ambition and intuition behind these kinds of choices.
Raina Cyrus, 19, has a big decision to make before she graduates from CEGEP at the end of this year: Go to university or study a trade.
The Montrealer is also considering a third option: Taking a semester off to travel and experience life outside of school before making that critical career decision.
“I need time to focus on myself and have some different experiences before deciding what I want to do next,” Ms. Cyrus says.
It can be tough for teenagers to choose a direction that will chart the course of the rest of their lives. Some may find it easier if they know what career they plan to pursue, but outside influences can add to the stress. Parents may be pushing them toward one profession or school while their friends may be encouraging them to go another route. Trade wars and economic uncertainty may have them worrying about future job prospects.
Vida Thomson, founder of Flourish Career Consulting in Vancouver, says people facing this decision should spend time figuring out what matters most to them – not their parents or peers – when it comes to a career.
She recommends doing a checklist on what you’re interested in and good at and what your career values are, such as financial rewards, independence, helping others and creativity. From there, rank those values and compare them with the career options you’re considering.
“Sometimes those values you have might come from somewhere else, so it can be hard to zero in on what’s most important to you,” she says. “So, taking the time to work through that – and spending some time reflecting – can make a big difference.”
Do your career homework
Ms. Thomson recommends that students learn as much as possible about potential careers and educational options through online research and talking to family or friends involved in that line of work. Shadowing someone in that job or volunteering in the industry could also be helpful.
“Sometimes you have this perception of a career, but then when you get into it you realize it’s different than you thought,” she says.
Ms. Cyrus has been doing her career homework. She has watched TED Talks on YouTube and TikTok videos to better understand different career paths.
“I like to learn about what they did to get into those professions,” she says. “I think it’s good to keep an open mind.”
Her mother is a financial planner with a large professional network and has helped her connect with people in different industries, including non-traditional careers and business paths that don’t require a university education.
Ms. Cyrus says she is reluctant to go to university and get a general degree given the cost and time commitment.
“I’m hesitant to go without having a clear idea of which career path I want to take,” she says. “With the rising cost of living across Canada, I’m worried that getting a random university degree won’t lead me to a well-paying career.”
The cost of a university education can be steep: according to Statistics Canada, 51 per cent of undergraduate students in Canada owed debt at graduation as of 2020, with an average debt load of $30,600. But that cost can lead to rewards. A Bank of Canada report found that workers with a university degree earned 53 per cent more an hour than those without, while individuals with “other higher education” made 18 per cent more.
Meanwhile, 700,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire in Canada between 2019 and 2028, creating increased demand in that space.
Ms. Cyrus has considered fields such as real estate or becoming a mortgage broker, but she says they seem oversaturated. One career that’s top of mind is becoming a flight attendant because she enjoys travel and experiencing different cultures.
“I’ve worked in customer service, I enjoy talking to people and there is room for growth in the airline industry without necessarily going to university,” she says.
Value of a gap year
If Ms. Cyrus decides to take a semester off, she will travel, possibly to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Japan. She will also try to shadow people in jobs she’s interested in to better understand what those careers would be like.
Ms. Cyrus says her parents don’t love the idea of her taking time off, worried that she’ll lose her motivation for school. However, she points to her older brother, who took a gap year during the pandemic and is now in his last semester of university.
Ms. Thomson says taking time off between secondary school and university or college can be a good idea if you plan how you will spend the time.
“If you can take that time to learn a little bit more about yourself and if you do it intentionally, to gain experiences that will help you make the decision, that can be really good,” she says.
Ms. Cyrus knows she’s privileged to have choices about her education, especially since many women worldwide lack the same opportunities.
“It motivates me to push myself to do the best that I can, whether it involves university or not,” she says. “I’m grateful to have options here. I’ll take my time to find the best one, but of course not too long. I know I have a lot to give to this world.”
