Some people are irritatingly good at doing tests, writing up coursework and using long words to explain things.
Others just aren’t and the sad thing about education is that so often those of us who aren’t particularly bookish and are so much more practical are left to languish at the back of the classroom.
While going to uni and studying can undoubtedly benefit lots of people, it seems silly to lean towards this as the only option.
Being a student might prepare you for all kinds of life-lessons but it is not the only way to be successful. In fact, there are plenty of things you can do outside university that will propel you towards the life you want.
The Construction Industry
As people want to move into cities and the population grows, the construction industry is thriving as it competes to bring as many new buildings including houses, apartments, shopping centres – you name it! – to the people who need them most.
Though you might think of construction as bricklaying, there are significantly more skills involved.
You will need to be able to drive the vehicles on site with an hr drivers licence, safely build scaffolding, be able to communicate efficiently and much more.
The construction industry might not be about being book-smart but you will need to skill up and work hard to work your way up.
Join the Arts
Theatre, music and painting might all have equivalent degrees available but if you are confident and you know what you need to do, there is no reason that you shouldn’t set up your studio and get to work.
Craft, in particular, is quite easy to start profiting on because you can sell your creations online.
As for music and theatre, you just need to be determined enough to keep going to auditions until you get your first role.
The arts can be fickle and you may need to take on other casual work while you pursue your primary goal but this is perfectly normal. Keep your aim in sight and you will get there eventually!
Food and Drink
The hospitality industry is another area where you don’t need to be academic to make a huge impact.
In fact, many of the most successful restaurants and bars are run by people who are passionate about what they do and didn’t want to waste any time going to university before getting stuck in.
All you need to do is get some experience working at the type of venue you find the most fun and then work your way up.
This will give you the insight into the industry you need to decide what to put into your own business plan – if you want to open your own venue, of course.
There are so many careers where studying at a higher level isn’t going to get you much further and if that is the case for you, then you should set your sights elsewhere and start working towards your own goals.
There is no single way to become a success. The most important thing is that you are happy and content in what you are doing.