🎉 That’s a Wrap! 🎉 Your End-of-Term Futures & Careers Roundup (Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love University Fairs)

Another year down, and wow—what a ride! From Year 6 dreamers to Year 13 world-changers, we’ve been busy herding students toward bright futures (and occasionally herding ourselves toward coffee). I'm pleased to report that the Careers Department has successfully survived another 12 months of answering the eternal question: "But what do you actually DO with a degree in Medieval Basket Weaving?"

Here’s a highly professional (but slightly silly) recap of the year:

The Stats That Matter (And Some That Don't)

This year, we've guided everyone from our bright-eyed Year 6 students (who still think being a dinosaur is a viable career option) to our soon-to-be-graduates in Year 13 (who've now realized it isn’t but are considering paleontology as a compromise).

Our university fair marathon reached epic proportions with over 15 university fairs bringing together over 25 countries – that's more international representation than some UN meetings, and significantly more free branded pens per person. We also hosted multiple online fairs, because apparently, we needed to prove we could handle Zoom fatigue on an industrial scale while simultaneously explaining the difference between a Bachelor's and a Baccalaureate to confused parents.

Specialised Workshops: Because Regular Stress Wasn't Enough

• SATs preparation (where we learned that standardised testing is neither standard nor particularly testing of anything useful)

• Multiple Mini Interviews for future medics (teaching students that bedside manner starts in the interview room, not at the bedside)

• LNAT preparation for prospective lawyers (because the world apparently needs more people who can argue professionally)

• UCAT Masterclass featuring an inspiring young doctor from Medology (who proved that you can survive medical school and still have a sense of humor)

The Young and the Harvard-ous

For our younger students, we brought the Harvard Young Leaders programme directly to school, which was considerably easier than flying 500 students to Boston. Though we did manage to send some to the actual Harvard campus, where they learned that ivy doesn't just grow on buildings – it grows on egos too.

Our summer camp program continues to thrive, with students jetting off to prestigious institutions from Harvard University to University of Cambridge, UK, to Switzerland and the UAE. Nothing says "character building" like homesickness in four different time zones.

Professional Development: Or How I Became a World Traveler (For Work)

My own professional development took me to the University of Debrecen, Hungary, where I discovered that goulash pairs surprisingly well with discussions about English-taught Medicine and Law programs. Who knew academic research could be so delicious?

I also had the privilege of running training sessions for GCC-wide counsellors (where I learned that career confusion is truly a universal language) and participating in two international panel discussions on career pathways for Students of Determination and Vocational Pathways. These sessions reminded me that every student's journey is unique, even if they all seem to lead through the same university fair bottlenecks.

The BMI Global and Times Higher Education conference, as always, every year, provided crucial opportunities to network with universities and educational providers from around the world. These events are essentially speed dating for educators – except we're finding the perfect fit for a student who wants to study Marine Biology but is afraid of water.

As we head into the summer break, I'm already planning next year's adventures in higher education guidance. Rest assured, we'll continue to help students navigate the increasingly complex world of university applications, career choices, and the age-old question of whether following your passion will lead to a well-paying job.

Thank you all in my network for your support this year. Without your connections, I'd have had far fewer opportunities to explain why "influencer" isn't yet a recognized academic major.

Here's to another year of turning confused teenagers into slightly less confused young adults!

✨ The future isn’t just something we prepare for—it’s something we create. ✨

Final note: No staff were harmed in the making of this school year (though a few may have been mildly traumatized by the phrase “personal statement”).

Gunjan Aggarwal Amin Hashmi BMI GlobalEd | Times Higher Education University of Debrecen

#internationalcareers #followyourpassion #internationaleducation #studentopportunities #internationalcounsellors #higheredconnections #studentsuccess #kingsalbarsha #futureleaders