Shape your identity
When making plans for the future, it helps to know the kind of person you are—your strengths, skills and values and how these can help guide your career path.
To understand who we are today and who we’ll be in the future, it’s important to look back on where we’ve come from.
Making life decisions
Developing a sense of who you are (sense of self), including your core beliefs and values, can help when considering your future goals, plans and life decisions.
Your sense of self changes over time and is influenced by a variety of things including whānau, peers, friends, education and the media.
Understanding who you are
To develop an understanding of who you are, try thinking of yourself outside the labels attached to you. These labels include things like ‘uni student’, ‘brother’, ‘sister’, and ‘partner’. Consider:
- Who am I when I take away these labels?
- How does where I come from influence who I am today?
- Who and what do I relate to?
- What can I do?
- What are my strengths and skills?
- What do I believe in?
- What are my values?
Your core beliefs and values
Developing and understanding your core beliefs and values is important for making life decisions, as they make sure that the actions you choose are in alignment with who you are.
Your strengths and skills
Identifying why you're studying, what your skills are and where your strengths lie is a good place to start when you need some direction in life.
Life after graduation
No matter where you're heading, university gives you the opportunity to develop skills you can take away with you after you graduate.
Get careers advice
You can make an appointment or drop-in and see the Careers and Employment team for career advice and help with planning, decision-making and job applications.