Planning for High School and Beyond
Contributed by Mari Jo Parks, M.Ed, Career and College Coach
Welcome back to school. Oh, the excitement. Oh, the dread. Oh, the unknowns. And there are so many opportunities and things to do.
Mari Jo Parks, College and Career Coach, offers some advice for high school students and their parents. She has recently published a book, Guide to Your Future: A Plan for Life After High School. It helps students on their journey to find the answers they have about the future, including finding the right college or educational opportunity, financial aid, scholarships, and even how to find a job. For more info, visit her website at findingyourfuture.net. Mari Jo also offers private one-on-one sessions to help students on their journey. Here are some of her beginning-of-the-year suggestions.
SENIORS’ STRATEGY: It is your senior year! There are important things to do to start the year out right. Organization is key—there will be many deadlines to keep track of. Create a master calendar including important dates. Check the school calendar, activities, college and career fairs, and fun. Put it somewhere you can see it on a regular basis. Get a notebook or journal to write down your plans and ideas. Keep track of the people you talk with about schools, scholarships, and other contacts. Explore the educational options to include college, trade school, apprenticeships, and short-term training. Talk to your counselor and everyone you know to learn more about your options. Check your transcript and credits so it is ready for sharing with schools. Go to school events, participate in sports, or theatre or other clubs. One more thing: don’t forget to plan for your senior portrait!
JUNIOR JOURNEY: Your junior year is one of the most exciting times of high school. You have certain opportunities and time to plan for your future. Many of the recommendations listed for seniors are things you could also be doing. The good news is you have more time to explore. Being organized is a very valuable skill. Try different ways to organize and decide what works for you. Do you need to have a whiteboard to list your to-do list, a dayplanner, a system in your phone, etc.? Learn something new and keep a log about it. This will be very valuable when you try to decide what to do for a career or need to write an interesting essay. Go to school events. Attend college and career fairs. Write a list of interesting careers and research them.
SOPHOMORE & FRESHMAN DISCOVERY: High school can be overwhelming, but there are ways to make it better. Try to take things one step at a time. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Get organized. Keep each class in its own folder. Make a schedule and try to stick to it. Research specialty classes at your school or in the district. Find out what you have to do to take those classes. Write a list of careers you think would be interesting. Research them to get more information.
PARENT NOTES: Being a parent of a high school student can be tough. I have talked with numerous parents about the anxiety they are feeling as they help their students plan for their future. The main question is, “What should we be doing to help our high school student?” There are no simple answers and each student and family is different. You will be getting advice from many different sources, you will watch your student’s friends make decisions, and your student will change their mind many times. It is all OK. Try not to stress! I know that is easier said than done. The reality is that stressing is not changing anything, and it might be getting in the way.
The most important advice is to help your student do what is best for them. Keep in mind that your student’s journey is a path, not the end of the road.