Finding Your True North

This article is part of our new blog series: Compass Points. In this series, we'll highlight tips and best practices for planning and shaping your journey into higher education in a world that is constantly changing. Whether because of geopolitics, global pandemics, or economic viability, even the most carefully laid plans can be disrupted. Trellis Academic is here to ensure that our students are supported through it all and prepared for their path forward, wherever it may lead.

Many students begin the university planning process with specific programs, countries, or career outcomes already in mind. This ambition is admirable, but narrowing the path too early can limit a student’s potential. In a world where industries evolve rapidly and global opportunities shift, students who cling too tightly to one plan often miss out on better ones.

Rather than following a rigid map, students need a compass: an internal sense of direction that helps them navigate dynamic possibilities while remaining grounded in what matters most. At Trellis, we work with students to identify their "true north": the values that shape how they want to learn, live, and lead in the future.

From Passion to Purpose: Identifying Career-Driven Values

Clarifying your true north begins with asking the right questions: What problems do I want to solve? What kind of environments help me thrive? What motivates me more than anything else? Is it recognition, service, discovery, or creativity?

Career-aligned values are different from general traits. They guide not only what you choose to study, but how you imagine your future impact. Values like independence, innovation, or empathy can point in many directions, including law, education, tech, or design. The strongest choices are those that integrate more than one dimension of your interests.

When the Map Misleads: The Danger of Over-Specification

One common pitfall is over-specification. A student might be set on studying business in Singapore due to family ties and the city’s global reputation. However, through mentorship, we might uncover that what they truly care about is launching socially impactful ventures in emerging economies. In this case, we help them explore interdisciplinary programs in Southeast Asia and China that offer business training alongside fieldwork in development sectors. These programs are not only more affordable, but also better aligned with the student’s regional goals and long-term vision.

At Trellis, we’ve seen how rigid plans can keep students from discovering possibilities that actually suit them better. Our goal is not to discourage ambition, but to keep curiosity and adaptability at the center of decision-making.

Intersections: Where Values and Opportunity Meet

Consider a student passionate about entrepreneurship and chemistry. Through Trellis mentorship, she explores liberal arts programs in the United States that allow her to pursue both, ultimately finding a college with business incubators and interdisciplinary research centers that offer a rare opportunity to combine both interests in a way that prepares her for startup ecosystems and applied science careers alike.

Another student, interested in a U.S. master’s program, wants to work in Asian emerging markets. Rather than taking on the high cost and misaligned networks of a U.S.-based degree, we help them apply to top Chinese universities that offer fully funded programs in English—opening the door to local relationships and region-specific career options.

A third student feels torn between financial stability and a passion for visual arts. She’s leaning toward economics, but through mentorship she finds programs that let her double major in both fields. Internships in fashion marketing soon follow, helping her launch a creative and financially sustainable path.

In each case, what made the difference was not a fixed plan. It was a compass, refined through conversation, reflection, and regional insight.

How Trellis Mentorship Helps You Plan Your Academic Path

At Trellis, we do not promote one path or one country. We help students clarify what matters to them and then explore educational landscapes with that clarity in mind. Our mentors draw on deep regional knowledge and a breadth of experience across academic systems to help students match their evolving goals with flexible, high-opportunity programs.

We do not draw maps. We help you refine your compass.

Clarify Your Values, Adapt Your Path, Pursue What Matters

If you’re ready to begin charting your path forward, start by identifying three or four values that matter most to you. Consider how they show up in your academic interests, your extracurricular choices, or your long-term goals. What do they suggest? Not about what you should do, but what you might explore more deeply?

Your compass may not point to a straight line. But with guidance, it can lead somewhere extraordinary.

If you're ready to refine your compass and explore the full range of what's possible, reach out to connect with a Trellis mentor.