The Future Is Unwritten

6 April 2015Jaclyn C, Alex ‘16

Walking into Mr. Rodrigues office I ask, with a sigh, “So, what should I do with my life?” He laughs, “Whatever you want”. I’ve been told by many respectable people that my ambition of “vagrancy” is unfortunately not something I should shoot for. With tough decisions such as course selection and accepting university options having to be made soon, I find it helps to keep Joe Strummer of The Clash’s words in the back of my mind: “The future is unwritten”. The great thing about the university counsellors at Brentwood is that they don’t tend to pressure you into a school or a program you don’t want. I want to pursue music, and they support that. Thanks to our strong arts program, not one of them has told me that I need to get a “real job” or insisted that I should be an engineer or a lawyer. Of course, when considering the future, one must consider what to do directly post-Brentwood. University, college, diploma, certificate, gap year, what do I do? The options seem to grow every year, and although it’s great to have options, it can be overwhelming. Thankfully, the university counsellors have course requirements and recommendations near memorized for many post-secondary options. I’m consistently amazed that the uni counsellors put up with answering questions that they have put into course selection FAQs time and time again. “Do I need to take math?” or “Which science do I take?” or “Why do the SATs still exist if they are so trivial?” are all questions that I have asked countless times, and continue to receive detailed answers to every time. It’s not that I don’t pay attention; it’s just that the future can be scary, and it’s nice to be informed and reminded that I’m making valid choices. With course selection being a predominant conversation topic—even between students in casual settings—and people beginning to freak out, I have found myself more often than usual trying to give advice through song. Here are some my best examples: “Stay hungry, stay free, and do that best that you can” – The Gaslight Anthem “Let’s just breathe” – Pearl Jam “Banana pancakes” – Jack Johnson I’m certain that we’ll all figure out what to do with our lives soon, and I look forward to the adventures that are sure to come my way. To quote The Clash and give parting advice: “Go easy, step lightly, stay free.” Jaclyn C, Alex ‘16

Where Students Choose To Be