Gozitan students express their views on their future

Students were asked to write about their views on the transition from sixth form to university and on their prospects for employment in the future.

Students from Sir M.A. Refalo Centre for Further Studies, Gozo, Malta

Our students write    

Nos élèves écrivent     

Unsere Schüler schreiben

A number of our past and present  students  were asked to express their views in writing about how they view their academic and employment future.

Students from the first year: (Age 16)

How do you see your future in the next few years?

1.  At the moment, I don’t know exactly what I am going to choose as a career. Well, I wish to continue studying at university. What terrifies me is unemployment after all these years of hard work. Our education system is based on theory rather than practice and I think that employers prefer to employ workers with some work experience. I chose my subjects with the help of a guidance teacher but still we are limited to only two A-levels which limit drastically our chances for certain courses at university.

In my opinion, at our age we should have the opportunity to meet people working in different areas and they themselves give us a description of what their job exactly is, so that we can make a better choice for our career in the future.

2. I don’t know what the future might bring in the next few years. I chose my A- levels, 2 languages (German and Italian) because I would like to be a tour guide. I am still in the first year and maybe I’ll change my mind in the following year or so. According to the booklet we received before choosing our subjects at school, the course is not open which I would like to have at university in the year 2006. That is a course to become a tour guide.  Sometimes I think of taking a course in education and becoming a teacher but I am scared because there are too many teachers and by then even more will have graduated, so it is quite possible that there will be no work of that kind. Nowadays there are many changes in Malta and then there is the big problem of unemployment. I am not clear about the future. One of the reasons may be that I do not have enough information. Right now I am thinking of going to university.  But then I might decide to go to the Institute of Tourism Studies where there is a course for tour guides.

3. At the moment, I am a sixth form first year student. I haven’t decided my career yet, but I chose those subjects which can lead me to a diploma from the Faculty of Arts. For me, it wasn’t a very hard decision as I like languages and culture. 

Even though I chose these subjects, I don’t know exactly what careers there are. But on the internet, there is very useful information which I hope to find some time to read in order to see what job opportunities there are. As far as I know, most of the careers may take me abroad.

Although I am willing to go abroad in order to find a job or further my studies, I also have my fears. Maybe I won’t find the job I like or maybe I don’t settle down in the country. But in order to not let these things happen, one could seek help or go to a country where a job could be found . If one had a friend there one would not feel so alone in a completely unknown environment. For now, I hope to continue my studies and hope that one day I can obtain the job I have always worked and strived for.

4.I know I want to be a teacher and I want to study education.  The course at the university does not sound very hard and the entry requirements are not impossible. Like everyone, I like long summer holidays, but most of all, I really like what I am studying.  I chose technical design as one of my A-levels because I enjoy it a lot. I am really lucky. Everyone is telling me there are no jobs for teachers but in Gozo there are not enough teachers for this subject. I want to stay living in Gozo.

5. I am taking biology and chemistry A-levels. I want to be a doctor but I know that very few students get the necessary grades (B). I could go into another health care course but I’ve read in the newspaper that most of  those graduates are unemployed. There are still not enough science teachers. But perhaps if I work hard enough I will be a doctor.

Second Year:

WIE STELLEN SIE SICH IHRE BERUFLICHE ZUKUNFT VOR?

HOW DO YOU IMAGINE YOUR FUTURE?

COMMENT VOUS IMAGINEZ-VOUS L’AVENIR?

1. Die Zukunft ist sehr unsicher für mich. Ich habe viele Sorgen. Sicherlich wird meine Karriere mit Deutsch und Maltesisch zu tun haben, die mir beide gefallen, aber es gibt wenige Arbeitsmöglichkeiten.

Meine erste Sorge ist, dass ich das Abitur nicht bestehen werde. Ich habe Angst, dass ich keine guten Noten bekommen werde.  Auch wenn ich gute Noten bekäme, wäre ich genau wie früher ängstlich. Ich weiß nicht welchen Studiengang ich wählen sollte. Ich denke, dass ich wenig informiert bin. Meiner Meinung nach sollte man mehr Leistungsfächer in der Oberstufe des Gymnasiums lernen, damit man eine größere Auswahl hätte und den Studiengang und also den Beruf leichter wählen könnte. Man sollte nicht zu früh die Auswahl an Fächern beschränken. Man sollte entscheiden, wenn man reifer ware.

Ich möchte Deutsch- oder Maltesischlehrerin werden, aber in Malta ist es fast unmöglich. Ich möchte lieber Übersetzerin oder Dolmetscherin werden aber ich habe Angst allein ins Ausland zu gehen, damit ich studieren könnte. Diese Berufe würden mir gefallen, weil man genug Geld für das tägliche Leben kriegte und ich denke, dass ich für solche Arbeit geeignet bin.

Ich habe Angst, weil ich denke, dass ich sehr wenig über die Arbeitswelt informiert bin. Wenn ich eine Übersetzerin oder eine Dolmetscherin begleiten könnte, wäre es gut.  Meine größte Sorge, ist, dass ich keine Anstellung finde, nachdem ich an der Universität studiert habe;  ich habe Angst, dass ich viele Jahre arbeitslos bleibe.

Für alle sind die Schule und das Studium jetzt sehr schwer und alle Jugendliche haben Angst, dass sie arbeitslos bleiben.

2. Ich kann mir meine Zukunft nicht vorstellen. Ich weiß noch nicht, welchen Job ich künftig haben möchte. Ich möchte einen Job, der mir gefällt und von dem ich genug Geld verdienen kann.  Ich bin zweifelhaft und verwirrt. Ich weiß nicht, wofür ich geeignet bin.

Manchmal möchte ich Englisch- oder Deutschlehrerin werden. Ich habe Angst, dass ich keinen Job finde. Im Moment gibt es keine freien Stellen für Deutsch- oder Englischlehrer. Wenn es sehr wenige Jobs gibt, werden nur die besten Graduierenden gewählt. Man muss also viel arbeiten um gute Noten zu bekommen. Ich denke mal daran, Jura zu studieren und Rechtsanwältin zu werden.

Aber zuerst muss ich das Abitur machen. Ich warte auf das Ergebnis des Examens und dann kann ich entscheiden, welchen Studiengang ich an der Universität nehmen kann. Meine erste Sorge ist, dass ich das Abitur nicht bestehen werde. Ich habe viele Hausaufgaben, die manchmal sehr schwer sind. Ich muss auch viel lernen Ich brauche viel Zeit die Arbeit zu tun.

Ich habe Angst, dass ich etwas lerne oder studiere, was mir später nicht gefällt. Manchmal weiß ich nicht, was ich will. Manchmal stehen einige Studiengänge an der Universität auf einmal nicht mehr zur Verfügung und dann muss man etwas Anderes wählen. Wenn man einen Beruf wählt und dann findet, dass der erforderliche Studiengang nicht mehr stattfinden wird, ist es schwer etwas Anderes zu wählen. Die Erfordernisse für die Studiengänge verändern sich oft und also muss man sich standig auf dem Laufenden halten.

Am Ende der zweiten Klasse der Sekundarschule (Klasse 6), muss man unter den Fächern wählen, die man lernen möchte und die später für die Karriere wichtig sein könnten. Ich glaube, dass man in diesem Alter noch sehr jung ist über die Karriere zu entscheiden. Manchmal muss man ein Fach wählen ohne genug über das Fach zu wissen. Manchmal ist es schwer, das Fach später zu wechseln.  In der Oberstufe hat man nur zwei Leistungsfächer und also hat man später eine beschränkte Auswahl an Studiengängen. Meiner Meinung nach war es besser früher, als man drei Leistungsfächer lernte. 

Manchmal finde ich, dass ich nicht genug Information über die Universität oder die Auswahl an Studienfächern habe. Meistens bekomme ich die Informationen von Lehren, Freunden oder von Gesprächen mit anderen Leuten. Alle Informationen sind im Internet zu finden, aber ich suche nicht viel. Manchmal fühle ich, dass die Arbeitswelt weit von mir ist. Ich weiß nicht genug über verschiedene Jobs. Es würde helfen, wenn man mit Menschen, die schon eine Karriere haben, sprechen könnte.

Ich hoffe, dass meine Zukunft gut ist und dass ich erfolgreich sein werde.

3. Je ne sais pas ce que je veux faire. Je ne veux pas travailler dans le tourisme et on a trop de professeurs de français. Je ne veux pas travailler en France ou dans un autre pays européen – j’ai peur. Maintenent je ne pense qu’aux examens du bac. J’ai beaucoup à faire. Quand je sais les résultants des examens, je vais décider ce que je veux étudier.

Je voudrais aller à l’université, mais je ne sais pas ce que je veux étudier. Je ne   pense pas à une carrière ou à l’avenir.

4. I am studying pure maths and computer for A-level. The university wants more students in IT. I would like to study computer or IT at the university but I do not think I will pass maths.  Many of those taking the same subjects at this school  want to take the same course later. Some are very good with computer work but they find maths very difficult. There are jobs for those with degrees in computer and the pay is good but some students think they will get bored if they sit in one place programming all day. You have to be a nerd and love programming. I could do a course at MCAST (Malta College of Arts Sciences and Technology). They have some very good courses but a lot of people ( including my parents) think you go there if you are not good enough for the university.

Students Currently at the University:

1. I am studying to be a teacher. When I was in sixth form I was confused. I did not expect I would pass my exams. I did already know I wanted to be a teacher. I could not think what else to do. Even though everyone told me I would not get a job later ,I decided to take education when I got my results. I just hope I’ll be lucky.

2. I am studying education. I am working as hard as possible as I know only the best stand a chance of a job. Perhaps I won’t get a job in Malta.  Some of this year’s graduates went to England because they do not have enough teachers.  I would like to go abroad either while I’m a student or even later to work.

3. I am studying engineering. I wanted to become a pilot but there are no openings to train with Air Malta. I love machines. When I entered uni, I had no doubt that I wanted to study mechanical engineering. Aeronautics engineering would be best, but it is not offered here and I am not ready to study abroad yet. Our lecturers told us that so far all engineering graduates found jobs in Malta, so I was really optimistic at the start of the course.

What I did not know was “What exactly does an engineer do?” I find it hard to explain it to other people who ask me, especially as most think that since I'm studying mechanical engineering I will become an automotive mechanic and change their silencers! I can’t imagine what I will be doing in 3 years. It is good that this year we are being taken to visit factories. Some things are worrying me. Some of those employed as engineers are supervisors, managers, working in marketing but not that many are doing the work of engineers, what they spent 4 years learning. I want to work with machines. When we visited one factory , we were told manufacturing would soon move out of Malta completely as wages and transport costs make the goods uncompetitive.  Almost all the opportunities are abroad as are many of the courses with the best practical training. I do not want to leave Malta but I might have to.

4. First Year Law student:             

I did not know myself when I was 16 and I had to choose my A-level subjects. I found the sciences very exciting but refused to accept that my talents were not in this area. I was ambitious and hoped to be a doctor. When I did not get the two B’s necessary to enter the medical course, I had to make up my mind to register for another course (one week after results!), a health care course in pharmacy. I made the wrong choice.

The first year was OK. When I thought about my future career, I dreamed of jobs loosely related to my field of study – more administrative than scientific. I was not ready to admit to myself that I was unsuited to my core field of study. Hope was triumphing over reality.  Some parts of the course I did like. I knew from the beginning that I did not want to work in a pharmacy but health care policy or administration, especially on an international level I did find interesting.

However it was in the second year that I was forced to confront the problem. The nature of the course was suddenly changed.  It became a course almost exclusively in community pharmacy. I had hoped that later I would be able to pursue graduate studies in health care administration or policy – perhaps abroad. Now those hopes were dashed. When attending a conference in Brussels, a pharmaceutical company offered me a place in their college of administration upon graduation but the change in the content of my course made this offer null and void.

I really hated the hours spent “on the job”, working in a pharmacy. I did not know what to do – I did not have the courage to start again. If I started again I would have no financial support and I was afraid of the reaction of my family.  And what course should I now take?

I drifted along, waiting for I don’t know what to happen. To make life tolerable, I became involved in work with student associations. I enjoyed this work so much more than my course and then because of this work along the way I realised what I should have known at 16. My talents are with words, discussion, debate and organisation. I still did not have the courage to change my course and I did not know what I wanted to change it to. I wondered if the A levels I had already passed would qualify me for a different course or if I would need to go back 4 years into sixth form.

I could not postpone the inevitable for ever. I was not failing but not doing well in my studies – and I knew that I had always been and was still capable of being a good student. I received nothing but praise for the work I did outside the course. Soon I would have to spend even more time working in a pharmacy—a great idea if one wants that as a career. It gave me nightmares.  Our course concentrated on this one career path only, one in which there were few jobs unless one had parents with a pharmacy. It did not prepare students for related careers. The government no longer needed workers in this field in their laboratories and since the course had changed private companies no longer felt the graduates met their needs. The jobs once filled by those who had studied pharmacy for 5 years are now to be taken by those who have completed a one year course as pharmacy technicians at MCAST when they are 16.  I felt resentment that the employability of graduates was not taken into consideration when planning the course content.  Would I endure a course I was beginning to loathe only to face unemployment or at best have a minimal chance of a job I would equally detest?

I began to investigate the alternatives very thoroughly: the courses available to me, the material to be studied and I talked to others in those courses.  Then I finally changed course to law. The entrance requirements had changed since I was 18. Then I could not enter this course. Now it would be possible if I studied an extra intermediate subject(Maltese) at night before my third year. I will endure financial hardship as a result and I will see my friends graduate and begin careers while I still have far to go. But most of all I really LOVE my new course. I WANT to study and I am HAPPY. Some people speak to me of the wasted time but most tell me that nothing could suit me better and that I have made the right decision. I wish they had told me sooner – but then they probably knew that I was not prepared to listen earlier. The time was not wasted. In that time I grew up. At sixteen I was a child dreaming of scientific discoveries and not yet mature enough to plan my future.

Junger Lehrer

When I was in sixth form, I took German and Maltese A-levels. I wanted to teach these two subjects (they were not yet saying there were too many teachers). We were very shocked when the university told us just a few months before our A- level exams that the course in German would not be held the next year.  We were so depressed. It was too late to choose different A-level subjects. One of my friends in the course panicked completely—she was the best student in the class but did not do very well in the exams. I decided to become a primary school teacher instead. Now I have had the job for two years and I like it. Another of my friends found he was taking the “wrong” subjects to meet entry requirements while in the second year of sixth form and then went all the way back to the first year.