Students all over the country are sitting exams at the moment, some of ours, like thousands of other kids, are doing NCEA. Many of these kids with a view to go on to University.

But what happens when they get there? A new report shows up to two-thirds of New Zealand university students don't complete their undergraduate degrees in the standard three years.

Many don’t bother finishing at all. Some leave halfway through, some quit before the end of the first year.

So are high school students prepared enough for what University holds?

A leading educationalist says it’s crucial for school leavers to have a strong idea of their career path but that’s not a reality for many.

It’s hard for kids to know what they want to do or to have sorted a set path at the tender age of 16 or17.

I only went to University because I didn’t have a clear idea on exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew as many qualifications as possible would help. It took three years at Uni to figure out what I'd do next.

Kids these days, might not have a clue what they want to do, but also, their expectations are different.

They’re less likely to work one fulltime job for life, less likely to clock in 9 to 5 in one place, more likely to be part of the gig economy. They have to evolve with a changing labour force, find pathways where jobs won’t be replaced by AI, find outlets that will match their high expectations. Many students want to work for themselves, be entrepreneurs, explore several opportunities.

Sure there’re the kids who are set in their direction. doctor, lawyer, accountant and maybe University is easier for them, because their path is a straight line. But for many other kids, the road to a career is a rocky and winding one, with no GPS, and lots of hills and setbacks along the way.

The educationalists say kids need a clear path of study and purpose, and yep, that sounds great on paper in an ideal world.
But the reality for many kids is they’re living on a global platform in a 24/7 existence, digitally connected everywhere to everything.

Clear career direction may not come until later in life. In the meantime surely what counts, is that they feel connected to community, culture, their potential. That they’re socially engaged, morally responsible.

And if they don't know yet whether they want to be a car salesman or a school teacher, then so be it.