Life Orientation
Exemplar Assessment Task: Written Case Study

Section A
QUESTION1

Four stressors that Stacey experienced are: * Having to achieve an A aggregate and be the first matriculant to achieve one in 5 years at her school: Social Stresses * Having to achieve an A aggregate to receive a bursary to study a B.Comm in accounting at Stellenbosch university: Social Stresses * First member of the family to finish matric: Social Stresses * Not having the financial aid needed to study at university: Environment Stresses *
Stacey could have used 2 coping mechanisms when put under the social stress of being pressured into receiving an A aggregate not only by her school but also by the university by; 1. Keeping perspective: We often feel stressed and start to think in a negative way about things that in her case could have lead to her imagining the worst possible scenarios if she did not achieve what was being expected of her. This leads to us often blaming ourselves and others and thinking irrational thought where we jump to conclusions not based on facts. When Stacey felt like this or the next time this happens she should challenge her thoughts and try and think more realistically and positively. And say what if? Even if you don’t reach your goals you can still end up doing something amazing. 2. Being prepared: This is also a huge factor in coping with stress if you are prepared mentally and physically for the hurdles along the way they will be a lot easier. Stacey should try predict what might cause her to stress and put things in place to help her cope with stressful situations and put things in place so that she will be able to cope and feel more in control. I.e. if Stacey has a test that will affect her end of the year mark she must make time to study for it. Stacey also knew that she needed financial aid. Doing research and finding different ways that she could have received this aid for example through scholarships or funding by an organisation. Stacey should have taken time out and assess situations that cause her stress on a regular basis and try and find a suitable strategy to deal with each one.

Stacey’s strategy to achieve her career goal was that she would work very hard and not spend time with her schoolmates due to her always being so busy. And achieving an A aggregate to be accepted with a bursary into Stellenbosch university (the only university she applied to) for a B.Comm. Stacey should have managed her time better and have time to spend with her friends which would take some of the stress off her shoulders. Stacey also should have applied to more than one university to do a B.Comm in accounting and should have researched other ways to aid herself financially i.e. Grants, Loans, Scholarships.

Time manage throughout my last year allowing enough time for ‘work and play’. Don’t leave work till the last minute and do revision of subjects where I am struggling in and work a bit harder to make those easy A subjects even better than they are. Start studying early for exams and maintain a healthy work schedule with an acceptable amount of breaks and snacks. Manage stress and keep it to the minimum, being prepared for possible stressful situations by pre determining them. Appling to multiple universities and hopefully getting in to study medicine. * * If the above has not worked out and I haven’t managed to get accepted into medicine. I need to apply for my second option as well being Law or a BSC. A law degree would allow me to further pursue my other career goal and go on to do a Post Grad in international communications and international law to achieve this career goal. Doing a BSC and re- applying for medicine will hopefully allow me to have a second chance at studying medicine, this would require me to transfer and do really well in my two chosen subjects attending all the lectures and working hard to get good marks. * * Taking a gap year in Germany after I have matriculate if I am not accepted and try and gain work experience in the field where I would wish to study. This will also give me the opportunity to apply for universities in Germany, as I am a German citizen as well. This will allow me to gain prospective on what I’d really like to do for the rest of my life and gain experience in my future career choices by working as a nurse/ paramedic or an assistant at a law firm. * * * Section B * QUESTION 2 * 1. 2.1) Lack of education and skills, Overpopulation, Downturn in the economy (recession) where fewer jobs are created and business close down and lack of job search skills and information.

2.2) Unemployment can affect young people in many ways but three examples are: * Wasted potential, Young people could be the future and have the ideas that could solve things we are searching for but because of the lack of education and jobs these people can never develop to their full potential and capacity of what they may be capable of. This can lead to the feeling of uselessness and turn to substance abuse to take the feeling away. “What if the cure for cancer is trapped in the mind of someone who can't afford an education.” * Some of the youth give up and stop looking for jobs and rely on their parents to look after them which leads to a cycle of poverty because if these people have children and have no money to send them to school they will be uneducated and wont be able to find a job leading to a never ending cycle of poverty. * HIV and Aids unemployment leads to widespread poverty, which make the youth and people more vulnerable to contracting HIV and Aids whether it be through sex or dirty needles etc. This daily struggle of poverty makes people less concerned about contracting HIV.

2.3)
2.3.1) Volunteering Informal Jobs Entrepreneurship

2.3.2) | Positives | Negatives | Volunteering | You help others and give your time and skills to others.Volunteering allows you to teach other people about ways they could improve their circumstances and help them get out of unemployment. | Volunteering can be dangerous for yourself and the people around you that you are working with. I.e. with gangs in SAMany people also take advantage of volunteering and just do it to look good and not to help others by passing on skills and knowledge. | Informal Jobs | Flexible hours and you can take care of other responsibilities such as family. Supply’s income for a certain amount of money and allows you to gain those skills. | Short term and can lead to people being too lazy or unmotivated to fine another job.Getting accustomed to having money to spend and once job is over there is a drop in income and a life style change which could lead to people wanting more than they can afford. | Entrepreneurship | You provide people with a service or want that is missing in a community and fills the time where you are looking for a job. Can lead to success and become a day-to-day job for the person and they could employ others. | May not be a stable business and could crash if there is not enough people interested which leads to unemployment again.Competition can create conflict when people have the same idea and same business that they want to set up. |

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Section C
QUESTION 3

3.2)

3.2.1) Steps to start a business: Create a business plan, it will be a guideline and will help you to organise and set out how you will start your business. Get some business assistance and training, taking advantage of the free counselling services will help you get solid advice on your business plan, secure financing, expanding or relocating your business. Choose a good location. A location is vital. Your location needs to match the service or goods you are providing preferably where there is a gap in the market and you can fill it. Finance your business; government loans, venture capital and research grants could help you to dot this. Determine the legal workings of your business decide which form of ownership is best for you i.e. sole ownership, partnership, a corporation, and non-profit or co-operative organisation. Register your business name. Get a tax identification number from your revenue agency. Obtain a business license and permit so your business is legal and you have all the correct documentation to start. Finally understand your employer responsibilities; what you will need to hire employers and the steps to create a comfortable working environment and production chain or communication.

3.2.2) * Have and insurance policy. Make sure your business is insured: in case anything happens to your business your insurance has covered it and you don’t run on a loss. Little things can lead to major costs and incases of theft or damage you wont need to fork out money form your own account. * You may have to use savings: there a certain expenses your business will have in its start up phase that you will have to pay for i.e. equipment, computers, office supplies, etc. Making sure your finances are in order is one of the first steps in starting your own small business. By taking the above expenses into account, you can ensure that your company will be on firm financial footing. * Number one on the list is setting aside enough money to pay taxes every time you make money from your business. Be sure to talk to a tax professional or the tax authority in your area to see what you’ll need to cover your taxes. If these taxes are not paid you can land up with a huge amount of debt and the tax collector could get you into a lot of trouble. *

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