There is a phase many young people experience after finishing school or university. It is a season filled with uncertainty, constant questions, and quiet anxiety about the future. I call it the year of “What’s next?” It is the time when people expect you to have answers about your life. Where are you working? What are you studying next? What are your plans? But for many young people, the honest answer is that we are still figuring things out. That is exactly what I am navigating at this point in my life. Like many young people in South Africa, I sometimes question whether all the experience I have built over the years will be enough.
The reality is that finding a job has become increasingly difficult, and that uncertainty can create real stress and anxiety. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to work in broadcasting. I imagined myself becoming a well-known television or radio presenter.
Today, I am on the path toward becoming a broadcast journalist, and that journey has already taught me a lot about perseverance. My journey in media began in 2019 when I was in Grade 10. I started volunteering as a youth reporter at Nkqubela FM’s youth radio show, Livewire, which is supported by Radio Workshop. That experience sparked my love for storytelling and community journalism. Being able to share stories from my community made me realize how powerful media can be. I worked hard in school and passed matric in 2021. However, the waiting period for university responses was stressful. The first response I received was a rejection, and it felt discouraging at the time. Eventually, Nelson Mandela University accepted me, reminding me that one rejection does not define your future.
At university, I continued volunteering and joined Madibaz Radio’s news department. I started as a news reporter and later became an executive producer. In that role, I helped guide other student reporters while covering local events. These experiences helped me grow both professionally and personally. But after university came a different kind of challenge, the waiting season. Some days I feel hopeful and motivated, sending out job applications and imagining new opportunities. Other days, anxiety about the future begins to take over. When my worry increases, I notice certain habits returning. I start biting my nails again, taking longer afternoon naps, and feeling less motivated to get out of bed.
Sometimes my mind becomes flooded with negative thoughts about what the future might hold. These are some of the ways my anxiety shows up. One question I hear often is, “So what are you doing this year?” I know people usually ask with good intentions. But when you are still searching for your path, the question can feel overwhelming. Recently, someone I studied with shared how difficult it had been staying at home after graduating. But this month she told me she had moved back to Gqeberha and had finally found a job.
Hearing her story reminded me that situations can change, sometimes when we least expect them to. During uncertain moments, I often think about my mother’s advice. She encourages me to focus on self-development and to keep believing in myself, even when the road ahead feels unclear. I am learning that this “What’s next?” season does not only have to be about fear or pressure. It can also be a time for growth. It can be a time to develop resilience, build new skills, and learn patience while waiting for the next opportunity.
What keeps me grounded during this time is music, the support of my mother, and my faith in God. I also know that many other young people are going through a similar experience.
If you are in your own “What’s next?” season, it is okay to feel uncertain. It is okay to take time to figure things out. Your path may not look the same as someone else’s, and that does not mean you are falling behind.
For now, I am choosing to keep believing that the next opportunity will come , even if it takes time. And until then, I will keep growing, learning,and reminding myself that this season is only one part of the journey.
By Sikelela Rollom
