It is no shocker that multiple students feel that they are too young to make such an important decision that will impact their career life. Although we are considered mature, critical-thinking adults at the age of 18, all of us still get our doubts about the decisions we make.
It takes us a while for us to find our true calling. Roberta is a 20-year-old student, who went from Bachelor of Laws to Bachelor of Music, after realising it is no longer her path.
Roberta has never been 100% certain of what she wanted to do when she grows up. In fact, she never truly had the urge to take up Law but going through the syllabus and units, it sparked her interest. “I had my doubts till I finished my A Levels but I thought to myself that if I got to this point, might as well take up the Law course,” Roberta said. As uncertain as she was, she never gave up and pushed through. Perseverance and determination lead her to where she is now.
Like every other student, Roberta was extremely stressed during her exams; “I started questioning whether this is what I truly wanted,” she said. We all get this – that sudden urge to just drop out and kiss University goodbye. We feel like we have too much on our plate but then, the storm passes and suddenly we calm down as if nothing happened. However, Roberta made a great reflection on her career choice during the second-semester exams and it was her wake-up call that it is time for her to look for something that she truly is passionate about.
Even though Law was not for Roberta, there were still certain aspects that she enjoyed which played a role when deciding whether to drop out or not. During her first year, she got the opportunity to shadow the work of a notary. It first started as an internship and eventually it led her to work as a secretary there. “I wanted to become a notary and the work involved really interested me however that was pretty much it,” Roberta said. The rest of the subjects were just not her cup of tea.
When Roberta dropped out, she never planned on coming back. After experiencing the subjects and the job, she felt like she already saw what the course has to offer and she wanted to start looking for her true career. And that is where the music came in.
During her gap year, Roberta continued working as a secretary and made it a point to strengthen her skills as a musician. Music was always a big part of Roberta’s life, especially piano. “I focused on my skills as a pianist and worked on music theory and piano practice. I started learning with a different teacher and worked on getting my Music A Level,” she said.
Roberta started playing at the age of 10, with a year or two breaks along the way, but eventually, she has been playing the piano for nine whole years. At the age of sixteen, Roberta decided to explore the world of music a bit more and started playing the clarinet at the local band. “I still do it till this day and it is a wonderful experience – absolutely love it!” she said.
But from where the love for music stemmed from?
Her father. Roberta’s father is her role model, the person that has been very influential when it comes to music. Being in a local band himself, Roberta found it almost natural for her to start playing an instrument and taking music as seriously as her dad does. While her dad showed her the beauty of music, concerts deepened that love even more. “I noticed that in times of stress, I always turned to music, either listening or practicing. In fact, in a concert, I like to lose myself to the music,” Roberta said.
It is always a shock to the parents when they hear their child saying; “I want to drop out.” It is a hard pill to swallow when you believe your child has potential and suddenly, they just want to throw that all away. “When I told them I wanted to drop out from the Law course, they were surprised as they knew I was good at school,” Roberta said. However, her parents never held her back and this encouraged her from doing what she wants. While they continue supporting her decision wholeheartedly, Roberta still fears that her parents worry about her career because a career in music might be difficult in Malta.
When was that point in life where you told yourself; “This is it. This is what I want to do in life”?
During exam periods, Roberta turned to music as a stress-relief. “Not only did it serve as a stress-relief but it served as good procrastination as well” she joked. Eventually, Roberta realised that she really wants to continue playing the piano and the clarinet, eventually becoming professional at it. She started seeing that a job in music was possible AND available.
As I mentioned at the very beginning of this article, deciding what you want to do in life at the age of eighteen might seem farfetched to some. In fact, when I asked Roberta what are her plans for the future, she bluntly said “I am still unsure of everything.” Arts are definitely pushed to the side here in Malta and the music industry is so limiting here, it can easily discourage aspiring musicians. However, Roberta wishes to continue teaching privately as she loves performing and composition. When the time comes, she will simply need to explore and see what is out there.
A piece of advice…
If you are going through the same dilemma, Roberta suggests you write down the pros and cons of the situation, reflect wisely, and plan ahead. “Be realistic. I did not leave Uni and expected everything to be presented to me on a silver platter, you must work on your dreams.” Surround yourself with people that inspire you and support you, get ready to chase your goal!
