All my life I dreamed of being a teacher but I keep getting these words of discouragement from those who are really close to me, I nearly chose a wrong career path this year but then I decided to take a gap year. Everyone now sees me as a disappointment and right now I really don’t know if I made the right decision by staying at home. Did I?

Very difficult for me to answer that as I don’t know you, and those around you do know you.

Is there perhaps a reason why those people would not want you to leave home and become independent? Perhaps you could tackle them on that subject and ask them to explain their rationale to you .

I would normally say that I can’t advise on individual cases, as I don’t know the background and circumstances, and tell you to ask a friend, colleague or mentor who knows your situation to discuss with you

But in the circumstances you describe you need to think carefully about who can discuss this with you, who will be able to give you an unbiased view and help you.

First of all, think about who discouraged you. Why? What did they say? Was it justified? Can you take action to make good the shortfall they see?

When you say you nearly chose a wrong career path this year, are you still referring to the teaching?

Please go to the page in the link below and read all the lessons there. www.whatisacareer.com/developing-your-career-lessons/ Use the navigation arrows just under the green bar at the top of the page to read the next and previous lessons in the series.

Then when you have read all the lessons in the module, follow the advice offered in them. Write down the career paths you are considering, its pros and cons, and evaluate them one by one. Think about the training, its cost, the likelihood of securing a job with a good salary.

How did you use your gap year?

Who sees you as a disappointment? Why? What do they think you should be doing?

Whether staying at home is the right decision, only you can tell. Consider that as an option who you are evaluating career options.

So in summary my suggestion is;-

• Read the pages I have given you the links to
• Make notes as you do that about options, and your thoughts
• Select a number of people to talk to, and hold a conversation with each of them. Make notes.
• Select and evaluate your options

I do hope that this has been helpful to you in making your decision.