The Next Three Steps

The four-year plan has been accomplished. When I first walked into the orientation hall on the second day of 2010, the four-year plan was implemented. The four-year plan entailed completing my foundation year without any hindrances. An unfortunate miscalculation occurred in the first semester when I failed calculus and therefore had to take on more than I could chew in the subsequent two semesters just to finish the Foundation program in time for step two of the four-year plan. And I managed to pull through. Entering the psychology degree in HELP exactly a year after I first stepped into HELP as a foundation student was more than satisfying. I knew that the four-year plan was still in action, and that if I work hard enough, I just might be able to finish my degree in three years. First year passed by in a blink of an eye until I was faced with my first dilemma - friendships. I had to choose between taking on heavier workload, or follow my friends into extending a semester. I chose to take on the pressure and managed to barely survive balancing the coursework of 5 subjects and the subsequent two semesters, before I reached year 3. Year 3 went on rather smoothly except for the technical glitch in my Thesis that had me fearing that I could have to repeat my semester again. But thankfully that wasn't the case, and after deciding to push through my final semester with much rumination, I sit here today typing these words as a psychology graduate, and more importantly as a person who has accomplished his four-year plan.

And so like most adventurers after finishing a deary quest, the question on my mind is: What's next?

As of now my future is a blur, but if it's one thing the four-year plan has taught me, it is to always plan ahead. After much deliberation, a plan has been formed. A three step plan that would at least cover the next three years of my life unless something remarkable happens - I find my passion. This next three years will include my testing out of various job environments that a psychologist would venture into in order to find out my interests and what I really want to do with the rest of my life. I began implementing my three-step plan at the end of the four-year plan. With encouragement from my academic superiors, I have signed a one-year contract to be a graduate tutor. This job would expose me to the kind of lifestyle an academic would have as well as allow me to build my rather small network of contacts. Since education has been what I've been doing all my life, it felt natural to begin with what I was most comfortable with.

The following two years are undecided but the plans to venture into the corporate and event world seems likely. Basically these next three years will be used to explore possible work options for my future, and more importantly indicate an idea as to what I may pursue postgraduate. The three-year plan is not set in stone and it is only in the initial stages of planning. If by some remarkable phenomena, I find my passion before the three years are up, then the three-year plan might have to be cut short.

So as for now, I'm taking these next three steps in good faith that the God who has brought my four-year plan into completion will bless these next three steps. I trust also in the lessons that the last four steps have taught me and in the friendships that have followed me through. Here's to the next three steps!