Term 2, Week 9

"And That Has Made All the Difference":

How Year 9s Are Thinking About Their Future

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…"

AI-generated artwork created with ChatGPT

So begins Robert Frost’s iconic poem The Road Not Taken, often quoted as a tribute to individuality and bold choices. But on closer reading, the poem’s deeper message is more complex: it’s not just about the path chosen. It’s also about the one left behind. The decisions we make are powerful not just for what they open up, but for what they close off.

When our Middle School students return from the Winter holidays, they’ll be standing at a similar fork in the road: preparing to select their senior subjects. These decisions are more than administrative. They mark the beginning of a new stage of learning where students must shift from broad exploration to more deliberate and strategic choices. Year 10 is not the final opportunity to “try a bit of everything”. It is the foundation for a successful QCE pathway and beyond.

To better understand how our Year 9 students are thinking about their future, we asked them to reflect on the factors that influence their career decisions. The results were insightful.

Students placed the greatest value on their own performance and interests. “My school grades” and “The subjects I’m good at” were rated most highly, signalling that students are beginning to make choices aligned with their strengths. Practical considerations also loomed large: “The expected salary” and “The availability of jobs” were both viewed as important, demonstrating a growing awareness of the world of work and future stability.

Social influence, however, was less prominent. Most students said that the plans of their friends were not important, and while parental expectations held some influence, they were not a deciding factor for many.

This term, students will be introduced to a range of Subject Selection Strategies to help guide their thinking:

• ATAR Distinction: For students targeting competitive university entry.
• Credential: Combining general and VET subjects for skill-based qualifications.
• STEM: Focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
• Health: Exploring pathways into medical and allied health fields.
• Creative: Honing artistic, media, and design-based skills.
• Interdisciplinary: Offering a broad academic foundation across learning areas.
• IT: Specialising in digital systems and technologies.
• Entrepreneurial: For students ready to innovate and lead in the business world.

As Frost reflects in his final stanza, the path taken "has made all the difference" — not only for the opportunities it brings but for those it leaves behind. Our goal is to ensure each student chooses their road not with fear or indecision, but with clarity, confidence, and a sense of purpose.