How to Make Life-Changing Decisions - Unit 2

C1 Advanced · Multiple Matching · Ready for C1 Advanced 4th Edition Workbook, Macmillan Education

You are going to read a newspaper article in which four people talk about their life-changing decisions. For questions 1–10, choose from the people (A–D). The people may be chosen more than once.

Catherine Offord

‘Just before the decision was the hardest bit,’ says 30-year-old Catherine Offord. She quit her PhD to go to work as a teacher in Micronesia in 2016. ‘Afterwards, it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t regret it once.’ One thing that had been holding Offord back was a feeling of failure for not completing her PhD, even though she wasn’t enjoying the course. But, over time, she realised that her happiness was more important than seeing something through for the sake of it. ‘Sometimes, you have to cut your losses.’ It helped to break down the decision into manageable steps. ‘It felt really overwhelming to make a decision that would potentially affect the rest of my life. It paralysed me. But when I decided that I was only going to make a decision for the next year, that was really helpful.’

Colin Thackery

‘When my wife died, it felt like my life was going into reverse. After 66 years of marriage, I wasn’t sure what would happen. But after a while, a new friend and I started to entertain everyone in our social club once a month by getting up on stage and singing. Bill would do country and western numbers, I’d take the ballads. I noticed that singing raised my spirits once again. Stepping off the stage one evening, a bloke came up to me and suggested I apply to be on Britain’s Got Talent. I told him not to be silly – why would they want an old man like me? ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it,’ he retorted. And then he dared me to, so I printed the form and sent it off. By the time it got to the final – and I was announced as the winner – I simply couldn’t believe what was happening. If you watch the broadcast back, you’ll see me asking the presenter what was going on. It was very noisy, you see, and I’m slightly deaf. I was in a daze. My whole life has been turned upside down again, although I’m not complaining. I’m the oldest person in the world ever to sign a record deal. Just a few years ago, I thought everything was over, and now I’m a pop sensation!’

Victoria Bryan

The first time 38-year-old Victoria Bryan got into a cockpit, she freaked out. Formerly a journalist from the UK, she moved to the other side of the world to retrain as a pilot in New Zealand. ‘It’s done me a power of good to do something totally different with my life,’ she says. She has learnt that if you are unhappy with your life, you have to take a leap of faith. ‘You can’t just sit there and think things will improve. You’re the only one who can make positive changes in your life. You have to go out and do it.’ ‘Talking to people is one of the best things you can do,’ says Bryan. ‘Don’t bottle everything up. When you’re overwhelmed, it’s tempting to hide yourself away and have a good cry. But it’s better in the long run to get out there and befriend as many people as possible. Throw yourself into whatever you’re doing that’s new. You can’t just be longing for your old life.’

Dwayne Fields

‘Growing up on an estate in London, I learnt to cope with the constant threat of crime and violence. One time, I was attacked while walking with a friend and ended up in hospital. After that, people around me were saying we should catch up with my attackers and get them. There was pressure to get revenge. The more I heard those voices, the more I wondered if they were right. That night, I re-evaluated everything. I thought back to the kid I was in Jamaica before I moved to London; the time spent outdoors exploring in nature. I wanted to find that person again. I applied to join a trip to the South Pole. I was too late; I was offered the North Pole instead. I wasn’t bothered. I’m from Jamaica – to me they were just cold and icy. Since then, I’ve circumnavigated Jamaica by kayak, run ultra marathons and trekked across the Sinai desert. The adventures and expeditions are great experiences for me, but I also hope that by doing them I can inspire other people to live their best lives too.’

How to Make Life-Changing Decisions

Four people talk about taking a leap into the unknown

advises people to take responsibility for improving their own lives?

was initially worried about making the change?

found the experience confusing at times?

mentions the urge to spend time alone?

made a difficult decision as a result of an unpleasant experience?

emphasises the importance of new relationships?

kept open the option of changing their mind again?

based the decision on something they used to enjoy?

hopes to be a role model to others?

was reluctant at first but was persuaded to change their mind?

Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.

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