Turns out, it doesn’t really work like that.

Spending time in real workplaces through opportunities like Cell C’s “Take a Child to Work Day” gave me something much more valuable. It gave me perspective.

Yes, I still want to pursue a career in broadcasting and news presenting. If anything, seeing professionals in action made me even more excited about that dream. I love the idea of communicating with people, telling stories that matter, and hopefully keeping a straight face on live TV when technology decides to stop cooperating.

But what surprised me most was what I learnt about myself.

I realised I’m someone who enjoys asking questions. I like understanding why things work the way they do. I enjoy talking to people from different backgrounds and hearing their stories. Those aren’t just skills for one career. They’re part of who I am.

I also realised it’s completely normal not to have every detail figured out.

At seventeen, there’s this weird pressure to have a perfectly mapped-out future. Sometimes it feels like everyone else has already chosen their dream job, university, and five-year plan while you’re still deciding what to pack for lunch.

The truth is, most people are still figuring things out. Even adults.

Seeing the working world reminded me that careers aren’t always straight lines. People change direction, learn new skills, discover unexpected passions, and sometimes end up doing jobs they didn’t even know existed when they were in high school.

That honestly takes a lot of pressure off.

I think the biggest lesson I walked away with wasn’t about choosing the “right” career. It was about paying attention to what energises me, what challenges me, and what kind of person I want to become along the way.

Maybe that’s the real purpose of workplace exposure.

Not to hand us all the answers, but to help us ask better questions.

And sometimes, asking the right question is exactly what leads you to the future you’re meant to build.