Would really appreciate some advice

LegacyUser

Sorry for the long post.

I'm a 21 year old girl, going to (hopefully!) graduate with a degree in psychology this year. So far, averaging a 2.1 which I'm quite happy with and I should be able to get into a masters course with this grade. My problem is I have no idea what to do next...I do have vague ideas about different areas that I am interested in within psychology but nothing set in stone. So, basically I want to take a year out, to try get some life experience and work out what I want.

I'm lucky enough to have a part time job in a supermarket which I've had since first year of college, and is fairly secure as it's the recently taken on staff which have a high turnover rate. My plan was to work full time as soon as I'm finished my final exams, with the goal of saving up to go to Australia for a year or so (less if I get accepted for a masters the following september). My parents however are slightly against this. I can tell they disapprove. Now, before anyone says anything about this I know that I'm 21 and an adult, and at the end of the day it's my decision, not theirs. But, I respect what they think and don't want to just dismiss it. Basically, their opinion is that if I leave my job to go travelling, I will return to no job, no money etc. Basically "in this economic climate" it's not the best thing to do. Which is true. I understand that risk. I'm just trying to weigh up the pros and cons.

The way I see it is that I have spent every summer since I started college working in this supermarket, while friends were off interrailing, J1'ing etc. I've worked hard to pay my own college reg fees, car insurance etc. Now, this isn't me looking for sympathy or taking on a 'poor me' attitude, it's just the way it was, and I'm proud I could pay my own way. I've always wanted to travel, and this is the perfect opportunity. I'm in a job I never planned on staying in forever and I don't really have any responsibilities here. The new idea is to go to Australia straight after christmas this year, giving me a good 6 months to both save up for travelling, and for masters fees when they come up. And also to think about what I really want to do without the pressures of coursework, exams etc.

Now, my parents know I'm definitely taking a year out. I'm just not certain enough about what I want to do to commit myself to something just yet. However, they seem to prefer that I spend this year out just working in the supermarket, which I think would be a bit of a waste of time because I'd be around the same people, same thing that I've been around for the last 3 years. What do other people think? Am I just being young and naive about the whole thing?

Eoin

Travel, travel, travel! You'll regret not travelling when you had the chance. You most likely won't regret giving up a job in a supermarket that you're not interested in keeping up.