12 answers
12 answers
Updated
Elyse’s Answer
Hi Dennis,
It's great to hear that you're thinking about your future! Here are a few tips for life after high school:
- Don't worry about figuring everything out right away! Depending on whether you plan to go to college, trade school, or immediately enter the workforce, it is not a requirement that you know what to do with your entire life right now. Instead, consider this time as a chance to explore all open doors. Open yourself to any opportunities that arise and consider this as your time to figure out all of your "no's" as well as your "yes's."
- Find a way to manage your time between work, learning, fun, and family. As your schedule becomes more fluid and your own, it can be difficult to find balance between all aspects of your life. If you make a conscious effort now to find this balance, it will serve you well in the long run!
- Begin learning how to independently manage your finances and save for the long term. While we all have different financial circumstances, the more literate you are in managing your money early on, the more confidence and ease you will find in managing your finances later.
- Let your world expand! This might mean travel, meeting new people, or learning something new. There are so many incredible experiences to have, now is your time to start widening your worldview!
Best of luck,
Elyse B.
It's great to hear that you're thinking about your future! Here are a few tips for life after high school:
- Don't worry about figuring everything out right away! Depending on whether you plan to go to college, trade school, or immediately enter the workforce, it is not a requirement that you know what to do with your entire life right now. Instead, consider this time as a chance to explore all open doors. Open yourself to any opportunities that arise and consider this as your time to figure out all of your "no's" as well as your "yes's."
- Find a way to manage your time between work, learning, fun, and family. As your schedule becomes more fluid and your own, it can be difficult to find balance between all aspects of your life. If you make a conscious effort now to find this balance, it will serve you well in the long run!
- Begin learning how to independently manage your finances and save for the long term. While we all have different financial circumstances, the more literate you are in managing your money early on, the more confidence and ease you will find in managing your finances later.
- Let your world expand! This might mean travel, meeting new people, or learning something new. There are so many incredible experiences to have, now is your time to start widening your worldview!
Best of luck,
Elyse B.
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Dennis
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Guizhi’s Answer
As a graduate student, I would say try to find your interest field before you make any decisions before you enter college (if you plan to do so). You'll still have a chance to change your college major or minor in your freshman year or even sophomore because I know sometimes it can be hard to find what really interests you in a few years. But I believe it's very crucial especially after you finish high school.
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Samantha’s Answer
Spend as much time as you can really thinking about what you love. I found my absolute love for organization when I was 13. To this day it is the number one thing I love most. You are not too young to figure out what makes you, you. One of the biggest mistakes people make is to never learn who they are. Think about it for a moment - if you figure out what your passion is, you can channel your future toward it, instead of wasting time in dead end jobs or worse, following someone else's pushing toward a career. Learn what it is that you can bring to the great table of life. Don't ever let anyone tell you it is wrong either, only you know if it is right. You can be anything you want. Anything!
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Liz’s Answer
As others mentioned, this is such a great question to already be asking before graduating! The best advice I could give here is to give yourself some grace! Find a school that has a variety of programs that seems of interest to you so when you are ready to decide what you want to do, you have options. You do not have to have everything figured out your freshman year. Most people do not even use their degree in their final profession of choice so don't be too hard on yourself when looking at degree options. College can be the best few years of your life - where you will meet new lifelong friends, a spouse perhaps?! Enjoy the time and make good decisions ;)
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Anthony’s Answer
Hello Dennis,
Congratulation for making it this far in your education. In a few more months you will get your high school diploma. This is the diploma if you miss it, you cannot re-do! (You can get the GED, but cannot call it a high school diploma.) So, it is a great accomplishments.
You probably have some ideas what to do after high school but was not sure if what you want to do is right and want some confirmation that it is okay. IT IS. University, college, vocational school, travel .... or working are all good options as long as you are happy with your decision.
Take some time to think carefully about your options. Then, decide. After high school, if you miss something, you can re-do! If you are not happy with one career, you can change to another. If you decide not to go to college now, you can do it years later. If there is a will, there is a way.
Decide wisely and good luck.
Anthony.
Congratulation for making it this far in your education. In a few more months you will get your high school diploma. This is the diploma if you miss it, you cannot re-do! (You can get the GED, but cannot call it a high school diploma.) So, it is a great accomplishments.
You probably have some ideas what to do after high school but was not sure if what you want to do is right and want some confirmation that it is okay. IT IS. University, college, vocational school, travel .... or working are all good options as long as you are happy with your decision.
Take some time to think carefully about your options. Then, decide. After high school, if you miss something, you can re-do! If you are not happy with one career, you can change to another. If you decide not to go to college now, you can do it years later. If there is a will, there is a way.
Decide wisely and good luck.
Anthony.
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Alessia’s Answer
Get as much experience as possible - even one week work experiences here and there can help make a difference
Updated
DENISE’s Answer
Hello,
I think you have already gotten some very good advice. I would encourage you to go to college. In today's world you almost have to have a degree to get anywhere. Even if it is a 2-year AA degree. By then you should have an idea of what direction you want to go. If college is not for you than there are many trades that need people. All 3 of my son's worked for the same hospital; one got certified in HVAC (air conditioning), one is in the electrical journeyman program, and the youngest is in the woodworking program. They make decent money and get free education. It's a win- win. They can stay with the hospital or use those skills to explore other opportunities. They are also exposed to new people and have great people skills. If you cannot afford college than get a job that will reimburse you for going to college.
Interestingly enough, the youngest already has a two-year degree, the oldest just got his Masters, and the middle is talking about going to college. They all see the value in it.
It is a good idea to move forward with something; even if you are still trying to figure out what you want to do. Most people that say they will do it in a year, don't. Life happens.
Good luck!
I think you have already gotten some very good advice. I would encourage you to go to college. In today's world you almost have to have a degree to get anywhere. Even if it is a 2-year AA degree. By then you should have an idea of what direction you want to go. If college is not for you than there are many trades that need people. All 3 of my son's worked for the same hospital; one got certified in HVAC (air conditioning), one is in the electrical journeyman program, and the youngest is in the woodworking program. They make decent money and get free education. It's a win- win. They can stay with the hospital or use those skills to explore other opportunities. They are also exposed to new people and have great people skills. If you cannot afford college than get a job that will reimburse you for going to college.
Interestingly enough, the youngest already has a two-year degree, the oldest just got his Masters, and the middle is talking about going to college. They all see the value in it.
It is a good idea to move forward with something; even if you are still trying to figure out what you want to do. Most people that say they will do it in a year, don't. Life happens.
Good luck!
Updated
Megan’s Answer
Hi!
Honestly it all depends on what you want to do after high school. If you want to work for awhile to think about your future, or go to college. A college degree is always a great thing to have, and in so many fields a requirement. You don't even really have to decide now. You can start almost any degree with the "fluff classes" as I call them. They are required to get any degree from a university. I am referring to classes such as welcome to the college. You can also do your basic English, math, and science classes without declaring a major. I hope this helps, and good luck!
Honestly it all depends on what you want to do after high school. If you want to work for awhile to think about your future, or go to college. A college degree is always a great thing to have, and in so many fields a requirement. You don't even really have to decide now. You can start almost any degree with the "fluff classes" as I call them. They are required to get any degree from a university. I am referring to classes such as welcome to the college. You can also do your basic English, math, and science classes without declaring a major. I hope this helps, and good luck!
Updated
Jeffrey’s Answer
Your post Highschool years will shape the next couple decades of your life. Finding a good work/life balance and a good group of supporting friends and family will determine how smoothly things go for you. I tell my kids: "You show me your friends and I will show you your future"! What this means is if you have a group of hard working goal orientated friends that will likely rub off on you. On the contrary if you have some less motivated friends you may emulate that behavior. Set good goals and allow for some mistakes along the way. Learn from your mistakes and move on as soon as your have absorbed the value of the mistake.
Updated
david’s Answer
Hi, Dennis,
There are some excellent answers for you already. I won't waste your time by restating them, so I'll offer a brief tip:
- time is short. You will graduate soon (and a BIG congratulation on that), and summer immediately follows, a time when, up to now, you were free to unwind from studies and enjoy doing your own priorities. Don't let that happen this year. Instead, take the many suggestions received here and define your plan on how to make that summer work for you. If you're contemplating college and haven't applied, do so immediately. Considering military service? If so, investigate now to plan your start date while you have more choices on career areas. The period of your life from first grade through twelfth grade, is often called a 'bubble', as your world, whether studies or activities or events, is within the scope of your school. Once you graduate, you will emerge from that bubble and, by doing some planning now, you will feel ever more confident when that day appears. You may still want that time off, but with a plan you will know you're moving forward. All the best to you.
For comparison, Dennis, when I was where you are, I did none of this. All I was thinking of was senior prom and a graduation party and staying out late. I awoke the next day to realize I had no plan of any kind for my next steps in life. I don't want that to happen to you and I am confident it will not. Good luck in your pursuits.
There are some excellent answers for you already. I won't waste your time by restating them, so I'll offer a brief tip:
- time is short. You will graduate soon (and a BIG congratulation on that), and summer immediately follows, a time when, up to now, you were free to unwind from studies and enjoy doing your own priorities. Don't let that happen this year. Instead, take the many suggestions received here and define your plan on how to make that summer work for you. If you're contemplating college and haven't applied, do so immediately. Considering military service? If so, investigate now to plan your start date while you have more choices on career areas. The period of your life from first grade through twelfth grade, is often called a 'bubble', as your world, whether studies or activities or events, is within the scope of your school. Once you graduate, you will emerge from that bubble and, by doing some planning now, you will feel ever more confident when that day appears. You may still want that time off, but with a plan you will know you're moving forward. All the best to you.
For comparison, Dennis, when I was where you are, I did none of this. All I was thinking of was senior prom and a graduation party and staying out late. I awoke the next day to realize I had no plan of any kind for my next steps in life. I don't want that to happen to you and I am confident it will not. Good luck in your pursuits.
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O’s Answer
Retianing a copy of your transcripts immunization records and Diplima and or certificates and or licenences you may gave earned in highschool it will help the college application process go by much smoother and stay on top of financial aid for you and your parents make sure taxess are filed and figure out if you will get more money with your parents or your self and remember it's ok to take a gap year berore school to hang out and think about your futare if you don't want to go right into school
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Job’s Answer
Congratulations. You can either go to college or a trade school. Trade schools teach a variety of subjects from welding to plumbing. If you do not want to go to college trade schools can teach you skills to make a good income. They include welding, electrician,framer of buildings, plumbing, nursing, HVAC which is heating and air conditioning, pipe fitter, mechanical for cars and trucks, heavy equipment operator, truck drivers and many other skills for a rewarding career.
You could also go to community college which is more affordable than traditional colleges.
There are a lot of options , but look at a career you will enjoy and dive in. Please do not work at a dead end job like fast food, there are no long term rewards in that field.
You can also go to a career advisor and discuss your options.
Good luck
You could also go to community college which is more affordable than traditional colleges.
There are a lot of options , but look at a career you will enjoy and dive in. Please do not work at a dead end job like fast food, there are no long term rewards in that field.
You can also go to a career advisor and discuss your options.
Good luck