Waking up in the first morning, after the exam is over ending the two years of exam stress, is really an amazing experience for all of us, Advanced Level students. Now, it's time to get our butts off and start looking at the world afresh and begin working towards our remaining goals in life.

All of us have different desires, needs and expectations and if you haven't given it any thought, this is the best time to start. Well, to start off this article I'm also a desperate kid bored and laid-back after my Exams. Yes, a "kid". Many girls I've met in the past few years taught me about the girl-guy maturity levels and that guys take it slow to learn and mature. Thank God I'm not a "man", but a "kid". I don't know how much things would change but I wouldn't want to change that side of me. No matter how immature or mature you may be, you're now an independent individual who should be able to make decisions and take off responsibilities from your parents' shoulders. In this article I included advice given by my parents and teachers, in a clear order that would motivate you and if I'm lucky enough, myself too.
Immediate plans and getting them done, how and when?

Driving lessons, Computer courses, Guitar lessons, what-not? We've special hobbies and we want to try out many things which may or may not be that important for our future, but we do it anyway, sometimes just to experience life.

What you're planning on doing mid-term is solely your choice but may require a certain guidance. After A/Ls all that I did was facebook, gaming and movies. It was quite important to me, but gave my parents an experience through hell. "When are you ever going to move your butt off from that computer chair?", "Wait ammi, just a second!" but well, seconds in my world do really take time. This is what I enjoy doing. The only problem with it, was that it was not so productive, all this time.

I decided to hang around with some of my friends, so that I could get used to an atmosphere outside this "hell"(as my parents would call it). I decided to go for driving lessons, guitar lessons and even write articles to a newspaper. I'm enjoying life at the moment because it's dynamic, letting me get familiar with a wide-variety of options. No stress, guys and gals, take your time but remember "Now" is the best time to think.

What career-path suits you the best?
Maybe you have chosen what path you're going to take. But it doesn't hurt to give it a second thought, does it? Choosing a career is not easy especially if you haven't identified what you are best at.
1. Money is not everything - Well, you would really say "Money is everything". But sadly winding up in the most high-paying jobs could be a burden and a sad choice for people having no interest in those. Careers should be really oriented towards satisfying your interests. Its like going to a late-night jazz concert when you really wish you were home watching an old Hindi movie.

2. Just because your sister/brother is happy doing his/her jobs doesn't mean you've to pursue his/her foot-steps - Everyone is different and what works for one won't work for another. I've two brothers, one learning Material Sciences in U.S.A. , one learning Medicine in Russia. But I really don't wanna wind up doing anything even slightly related to what cither is doing.

3. You really need not work to learn about an occupation - First-hand experience is the best but now that you're free-living chaps, do some research, interview people related to the field that you've chosen.
4. No-one can choose a career-path for you - Not even your parents. They would not know about what view you have towards life. They could be a good guidance but never the ones who are going to pick a job for you, because you are who you are for a reason.

5. Jobs are not dull and boring if you chose the right one for you - Yes, a job would be tiresome if you're doing it full-time and having only a little bit of spare time. But, it would be double-the-trouble if you end winding up with a job nowhere close to your interests.

6. People who have succeeded in life didn't get there over-night - Us, average teenagers look up to people extremely successful in their careers but it's also extremely important to know their past experiences. If you stick with a job that you like, put your heart into it and give it your best, you would eventually become very successful.

Role of the Parents
The equation is not complete without bringing parents in to it. Whatever you do they will be there watching you. Hence I thought of adding a few insights for the consideration of parents, though I doubt whether I really have the clout to influence them. Nothing worth more than a good try.

Parents have really high expectations on kids. They want the best for their kids, things that they didn't get during their childhood. That's because they love their kids no matter how old or silly children will turn out to be. But remember you can't always expect children to do what you want in life. Maybe A/Ls is not their thing, maybe they need time to decide on what's important and what's best for their lives and their life-styles. Let them be independent and make their own choices. Sense of responsibility cannot be induced. It only comes when the person is actually independent from all dependent traits.

This sums up my thinking and probably thinking of many of my colleagues. If this time of our life could be made to right use, we might end up being entirely different individuals.