How do people decide what they are going to do after high school?

Lets start this story off by saying that I’m a big planner. I like to plan out the things that I do, but I have no clue what I am wanting to do after high school and it is stressing me out. I know that there are probably some of you that agree with me. So, I decide to wright about how people decide on what they are going to do. So, lets get started.

There can be a load of things students do after they graduate, They can continue their schooling and go to college, start working, join the military, take a gap year, study abroad, start a business, etc. And I’m sure that there are a lot of other things that you can do. No matter which one is right for you, you always want to make sure that you will be happy doing it in the long run.

College Pathway 

First I am going to talk about the college pathway.

You will want to take a career assessment test, this will help analyze your strengthens and weaknesses, and help tell you want job suits you the most. Don’t use these tests as your main source of decision making, but you can use them as a tool to help you find a career you will enjoy. Write a list of possible careers that match your interests and your capabilities. For example, if you find you are happiest when you work with others, jot down that you are a team player. You can talk you your parent, teacher, or counselor about your ideas.

Now that you have an idea on what you want to do you can start looking for what college you would like to go to. Make sure that you do your research about the colleges that you chose so that you can make sure that they have what you want to study. It is also a good idea to talk to your counselor about different colleges that you might not have know about. Another good idea is to start applying to scholarships asap so that you won’t have to go into a ton of student debt.

“After high school I plan on going to college to pursue a career in law. I would most likely specialize in family or immigration law and maybe one day start a political career. My dream is to become the President and use my voice to empower those who cannot use theirs. ” said Great Bend High School senior Alondra Alvarez, “I have always wanted to become a lawyer. I always believed it was the best option for me. Joining the debate team has definitely helped me finalize that decision. Since my sophomore year, my passions have become stronger. I have been a part of an activity that will let me spread my voice, and I know now that it is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I wouldn’t say it was a hard decision but I do have my fears. Many of us going into college, trade schools, the military, or the workforce fear the decisions we are making right now. I am only 17 and I am expected to have something figured out, and that is terrifying. I want to believe that this is what I am meant to do, but sometimes I fear that it is not. I hope I am not wasting all of my time on a career that I may not want in the next four years. The decision itself was the easiest decision I could have made. The hard part is not the decision, but rather sticking to it. It is my commitment that scares me, not my ambitions.”

Non-College Pathway 

Now, onto the non-college pathway.

It is perfectly ok to not go to college directly after college or even at all. Some alternative paths that you could take are, you could volunteer, join the military, get an apprenticeship or fellowship. Other things you could do are to just take a gap year and then go to college. Or you could just join the workforce. You could also start a business or study abroad. I’m sure that there are a ton more options that you could do. You should also talk to your counselor about what other things that you can do and get their option on it.