The After-School Special

You know that feeling of complete freedom right after you finish your last Advanced Level examination? You’re finally free from all the strife you used to get for waking up 5 minutes before 7 AM, forgetting to do your homework and lying about leaving your book at home.

- Keshini Dunusinghe

Or maybe you’d work on your assignments all night only to forget to pack it into your school bag. Perhaps you’d sit at the very back of the class and get caught reading a Nicholas Sparks’ novel, but despite this, still get some decent grades (take that Mrs Perera!). All those days have come to an end.

No doubt you’re going to miss it, but right now, we know you’re the happiest girl in the world! Now that school’s officially out, you should take a minute to soak in that feeling. Sleep in a little longer, catch up on those Netflix shows you’ve been meaning to see and finish your reading list for the year. While you revel in this time off, you’ll need to start thinking of what comes next. Eventually, you will have to make a list of universities you can apply to and check your eligibility, scour job listings in newspapers or surf the internet for online courses that will enhance your current skill set.

But, aside from pursuing a career of your choice, you can also accomplish a whole lot more which will invariably pave the way to shape and build you as an individual. How do you go about this? With a fresh perspective.

Outta sight, outta mind

A great way to do this is to clean shop (once you’ve got your beauty sleep, of course!). Give yourself the space to transform into the young woman you’re meant to be by cleaning out your room. Box up all your school books and papers, and stash them in the storeroom (we don’t Special suggest burning them as you may need them later, plus, you need to protect the earth, hello!).