by Alizeh
As a final-year Law student at UWE, and someone who works as a Law PAL and Student Career Coach, I often spend a lot of time thinking about goals — setting them, changing them, and sometimes letting them go. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that career planning isn’t about having everything figured out early, but about giving yourself the space to explore and grow.
At the start of my degree, I felt pressure to know exactly where I was heading. Like many students, I thought choosing one clear career path early on meant I was “doing it right.” What I’ve since realised is that exploration is not a lack of direction, it’s part of the process. Trying new roles, attending careers events, and speaking to different people and teachers helped me understand what genuinely interested me and what didn’t.
How has goal setting helped me?
Goal setting works best for me when it’s flexible and broken into small, realistic steps. Instead of focusing on one big outcome, I concentrate on actions I can take now, such as:
- Booking a careers appointment
- Updating my CV or LinkedIn profile
- Attending an employer or careers event
- Gaining experience through various volunteering and work experience opportunities
These small goals feel achievable and are easy to do, which significantly help build confidence and motivation over time.
Of course, not all goals work out and that can feel disappointing. I’ve had goals that changed once I explored different options or learned more about certain career paths. Rather than seeing this as failure, I now see it as valuable learning. Each experience helped me understand myself better and make more informed decisions to help me in my career journey.
To stay organised, I use simple tools like a digital to-do list and a notes app to reflect on my progress. UWE Careers resources, talks with my teachers and lecturers, and one-to-one guidance have also played a huge role in helping me explore opportunities that I might not have considered otherwise.
It’s important to remember that your goals do not have to match the people around you, and you certainly do not need a perfect plan. It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but success is personal and looks different for everyone.
Be open to exploring. Set goals that suit where you are now, and allow them to change and grow as you do.