‘I Know What I Want, But It is a Hard Road Ahead’: adolescents’ future education and careers

This qualitative study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of adolescents’ experiences and opinions about their future career exploration and planning during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We interviewed 27 adolescents (aged 16–17 years). The thematic analysis yielded the following themes: educational and occupational aspirations, career goals, career guidance and support, fear, insecurity, and personal responsibility for future education and careers. These cognitive, motivational and emotional aspects of career exploration and planning were explored within the model of vocational identity development. Not only did the pandemic fail to stop the planning and exploration of careers among adolescents, but it also served as a challenge inspiring them to view their career development from a different perspective.