IELTS Speaking · 18

Yes, I do enjoy making plans, because they give me a sense of direction. One thing I really hope to achieve in the next few years is to become fluent in English and maybe study abroad. Generally, I prefer planning carefully, especially for big decisions, though I try to stay flexible for everyday things. My plans have actually changed recently because I discovered an interest in marketing, so now I'm thinking about a different career path than I imagined before. I find it exciting rather than stressful to update my goals as I learn more about myself.

A goal I would really like to achieve in the next five years is to start my own small business, specifically a café that also sells handmade desserts. I've been passionate about baking since I was a teenager, and over time friends and family kept telling me my cakes were good enough to sell. To achieve this, I plan to first gain experience by working in a busy café for a year or two, so I understand how the industry actually operates. After that, I want to save money steadily and take a short course in business management, because passion alone isn't enough to run a successful company. The biggest challenge I expect to face is financial, since renting a good location and buying equipment requires a lot of capital. Another difficulty will be the competition, as there are already many cafés in my city. To handle this, I'll try to offer something unique, like recipes from my grandmother. This goal is important to me because it combines two things I love: being creative and being independent. Rather than working for someone else for the rest of my life, I'd like to build something of my own that brings people joy. Even if it takes longer than five years, I'm determined to keep working towards it step by step.

Some people avoid long-term plans because they fear failure or feel the future is too uncertain to predict. Technology has a huge impact, since young people can now explore many career options online and even retrain quickly through digital courses, which makes planning more flexible. I do think governments should help, perhaps by offering career guidance and affordable education, because not everyone has the resources to plan alone. As for planning five years ahead, I believe it's still realistic, but plans should be treated as a direction rather than a fixed contract, allowing room to adapt as circumstances change.