How to Choose a Future After School: What a Profession in Hospitality Can Surprise You With

APICIUS blog

How to Choose a Future After School: What a Profession in Hospitality Can Surprise You With

“You’re going to study economics, right?”
“Law is more stable”
“IT is the future - everyone’s doing it”

These are the phrases most high school students in Armenia hear when they begin thinking about their future. But how often do they stop and ask themselves: What do I actually want? What kind of life do I dream of? For many young people, the answer to “Where to go after school in Armenia?” is shaped not by passion, but by pressure. The pressure to choose something “prestigious,” familiar, or socially accepted - even if it doesn't feel right inside.

But times have changed. The world is moving fast, and the professions that used to guarantee a secure future no longer hold the same promise. The 20th-century mindset - choose a university, get a diploma, work a lifetime in one field - is becoming obsolete. In its place is a more dynamic, flexible, and creative world. And in this world, hospitality stands out as one of the most exciting, future-proof careers for young people.

Let’s take a moment to imagine what hospitality actually means. It’s not just waiters and hotel receptions, as some might still think. Hospitality is the art and science of creating experiences.

It’s about managing international hotels, launching wellness centers, designing boutique travel experiences, running events, building restaurant brands, and leading teams of diverse people around the world. It is a field where soft skills, business thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence come together - and it is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide.

For a teenager finishing 11th or 12th grade, the idea of going to a “hospitality school” might not seem like the obvious choice. But here’s the reality: it is a modern profession of the 21st century. It embraces everything that the new generation values - travel, design, innovation, technology, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and, most importantly, human connection. While other industries are becoming automated or replaced by AI, the hospitality sector continues to grow, adapt, and evolve. Because no matter how digital the world becomes, people will always seek connection, experience, and comfort.

So why are most students still choosing economics, law, or IT “out of habit”? Perhaps because that’s what their parents know. That’s what previous generations were told: go to university, get a diploma, and everything else will follow. But we now see that a diploma doesn’t guarantee skills. It doesn’t guarantee a job, or a career, or satisfaction. What matters more is who you are, what you know how to do, and how you think. In today’s world, employers look for people who can lead, solve problems, and build relationships. These are the very skills developed through quality hospitality education.

And here’s the best part: you don’t need to leave Armenia to receive this kind of education. At Apicius Armenia - an international school of service and hospitality - students have the chance to study under a world-class program right here, in Dilijan. This isn’t just a culinary course. This is a structured, full-time educational experience created in partnership with European experts. It combines management, entrepreneurship, sustainability, languages, hospitality technologies, and more. It prepares students for real careers - not just for passing exams.

Apicius is designed to reveal the potential of each student. Whether you're a born communicator, an aspiring manager, a creative thinker, or someone who loves to organize and host events - there is a space for your talent here. The environment at the school is professional and inspiring. Students work with international faculty, gain practical experience, collaborate on projects, and build connections that last a lifetime. They don’t just memorize theory - they learn by doing, by exploring, and by dreaming big.

And what happens after? A world of opportunity opens. Graduates can work in Armenia or abroad. They can join international hotel chains, launch their own business, travel through internships, or go into fields like wellness, event management, food design, luxury tourism, and even tech-related hospitality solutions. The profession is flexible - you can grow vertically into management or pivot sideways into related industries. And because the industry is so human-centered, your personality, leadership, and communication skills will always be in demand.

Let’s be honest: many students finish university and still don’t know what they want to do. They’ve spent four years chasing a title, without gaining the clarity or confidence they expected. What if you could start differently? What if, instead of thinking about what sounds “respectable,” you asked: What kind of life do I want? What skills do I want to build? What kind of work would make me excited to wake up each day?

Hospitality is not just a profession. It’s a lifestyle - full of motion, creativity, beauty, challenge, and human stories. It is about helping people, building dreams, creating impact. And it’s open to young people who are ready to grow, lead, and think differently.

So if you’re a student standing at the crossroads, or a parent helping your child make the right decision, think about the bigger picture. Think about where the world is going. Think about what your future could look like beyond a lecture hall. Apicius Armenia offers more than an education - it offers direction, experience, and the skills that matter.

The 21st century needs more than diplomas. It needs people with vision. People who know how to lead with empathy, create with purpose, and adapt with confidence. That’s what a career in hospitality offers. And that’s what Apicius Armenia is here to build - right here at home, for a future without borders.