Beyond the Results: Who Do You Want to Be at 28?

The release of A/Level results marks a significant moment for students across Sri Lanka. It represents the completion of years of study, perseverance and personal sacrifice. Yet, almost as soon as the results arrive, attention shifts towards the next major decision: what comes next?

Students are quickly asked which degree they will choose, where they intend to study and which career they hope to pursue. These are important considerations, but before making such a life-shaping decision, there may be a more meaningful question to explore:

Who do you want to be at 28?

For many students receiving their A/Level results, “Who do I want to be in 10 years?” becomes the next big question. For an 18-year-old, that 10-year milestone is 28 — a future that may feel far away, but one that begins with the choices they make today.

By 28, one student may be building a business of their own. Another may be designing sustainable infrastructure, developing emerging technologies, protecting digital systems or leading projects that create meaningful change. Others may follow paths that do not yet exist, particularly as industries and professions continue to evolve.

There is no single definition of what success at 28 should look like.

Students do not need to have their entire future planned immediately after receiving their results. Interests develop, ambitions change and new possibilities emerge through experience. The purpose of looking ahead is not to create a rigid ten-year plan, but to identify a direction that makes the next decision more meaningful.

A/L results are an important academic milestone, but they are not the final measure of a student’s ability, ambition or potential. A result sheet cannot fully reflect creativity, curiosity, resilience, leadership or the capacity to grow. It should be considered part of a much longer journey rather than the destination itself.

When considering university options, students should therefore look beyond the name of a qualification. They should ask what they genuinely enjoy, which problems they would like to solve and what kind of contribution they hope to make. They should also consider the learning experiences, practical opportunities, global exposure, industry connections and personal development available alongside a degree.

University education should do more than prepare students to complete assessments. It should provide an environment where they can test ideas, develop confidence, collaborate with others and discover strengths they may not yet recognise in themselves.

The right choice is not necessarily the pathway that appears most familiar or convenient. It is the one that creates meaningful opportunities to learn, grow and move towards the future a student imagines.

No one can predict exactly where they will be in ten years. However, every future begins with the choices made today.

As students celebrate their A/Level results and consider their next step, the question should not only be, “Which degree should I choose?”

It should also be:

“Who am I choosing to become?”

Because students are not simply choosing what to study for the next few years. They are choosing the direction of their next ten.

Don’t just choose a degree. Choose your 28.