Forward Momentum
Keep Learning
- Take advantage of any opportunity to immerse yourself in a good story. Crack a book you’ve been wanting to read!
- Watch a YouTube how-to video about…anything! From small engine repair (tutorials on fixing lawnmowers, etc.) to learning guitar to creating animated videos, expertise is on the other side of that play button.
- Invest time in your interests! It is easier to remember lessons discovered through trial and error than simply reading textbooks.
- Take a college class—for free! Hundreds of colleges and universities offer versions of classes offered on their campuses, also known as Massive Open Online Courses or MOOCs, at no cost, through websites like Coursera or EdX. Get a risk-free taste of what it’s like to take a college class, even at a place like Yale.
- Sign up for a free online training course from Microsoft, through LinkedIn, and learn skills needed for in-demand jobs.
Imagine Your Future(s)
Think about what you might want to do or be “when you grow up.” Take into consideration your talents and passions. Work can and should not only provide income but also joy and fulfillment.
Most people hold at least a dozen different jobs over the course of their life, so don’t be afraid to think through and beyond various career changes.
Next Steps Idaho has free interactive quizzes that can help identify your interests and values, then connect those themes to real jobs.
Research Options for After High School
There are a lot; college or university, community college, career-technical school, apprenticeships, armed forces, humanitarian program, gap year, direct-to-workforce, etc. Explore any and all that pique your interest. Then determine which of the continuing education paths require investment and/or financial sacrifice.
Research shows that many of these early investments can pay off (later) in terms of career success, general fulfillment, and improved quality of life. Talk to friends, family members, trusted teachers, and/or counselors about your plans after high school. Continue to weigh your options every semester you are in high school; by the time decision time hits, you’ll be able to trust your research and gut instinct.
How to Find the Right College for You