Preparing for Senior High and College
IMAGINE A MULTIVERSE OF YOU... A different version of you across alternate universes, life trajectories changed by small and big decisions made. It’s fascinating to think about what kind of person you would become depending on the road you would go down on. No wonder films like Spiderman: No Way Home, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness are so popular lately.
For young students like yourself who are at a crossroads with multiple paths leading to different futures ahead of you, deciding on your destination and which path to go down on can be both exciting and a little intimidating.
So before you second-guess yourself and get overwhelmed by the different possibilities, here are five things you can do to focus and fine-tune the direction you’re heading.
The first step before making any big life decisions is knowing yourself. With self-awareness comes a level of confidence and assurance. Understanding your personality type and traits will go a long way into helping you make the right moves for a fulfilling and successful future.
While there can be tons of different personalities involved in every industry, knowing if you have the character it takes to thrive in your chosen path allows you to narrow down the job roles in your field.
For example: In the Technology industry, there are roles for introverts who can work on their own like Software Engineers or Web Developers. However there is also a need for extroverts who can translate technical jargons into layman terms for others and develop easy-to-navigate experiences such as UI/UX Designers.
Sometimes it can be easier said than done, and that’s why you have to assess yourself. There are tons of personality tests out there, but we’ve got one that is based on science—the science of Psychometry which measures a person’s abilities, interests, and strengths to determine the best career choices based on their personality type. Just go to https://scope.sti.edu
What do you enjoy and find fulfilling? Being passionate about what you are learning will keep you motivated throughout the challenging times. If you are passionate about creating art or storytelling, you can explore a future in Arts and Sciences programs like Communication or Multimedia Arts.
On the other hand, you also have to take into consideration where your strengths and innate abilities lie. Have a knack for quick math calculations? You might be best suited for paths in Business & Management or STEM.
It’s okay if your passions and skills are not completely aligned. You can use this to your advantage in carving out a niche for yourself that is a blend of both. In today’s world, having a diverse set of knowledge and skills will be able to help you stand out in the long run.
Just like you would look up the specs of a new gadget or search for reviews and recommendations before making big purchases, it’s equally or perhaps even more important that you do your own due diligence in finding credible information about your future career paths.
Find out which senior high school track or college program will help you progress in your preferred industry. What are the knowledge and skills you will be able to gain and develop while in school to prepare you for your dream job?
Are your career goals and plans future-proof? One sure way to know is to learn about the industry outlook. When you graduate two to four years from now, is your chosen career still in-demand or will it be replaced by new and emerging roles? How much can you earn in your chosen industry?
Take your time to research on your career path options so you can weigh all the possible choices.
After assessing your personality, interests, and skills, and reading up on the career prospects of your chosen paths—you can now gain insights by approaching and
talking to people about your plans.
Talking to a professional can help you better understand the tracks or courses you want to pursue. When it comes to making such a serious decision, it would be best to approach your guidance counselor in school as they can help you layout your best options for achieving your goals.
Getting advice from experienced industry professionals in your field of interest is no doubt worthwhile since they can best provide wisdom and knowledge that
comes from being in the workforce.
Go ahead and ask your family and friends for their thoughts and ideas as well. While your teachers, guidance counselors, and industry practitioners give you valuable words of wisdom, your family and friends are the ones who understand you better and may even see a side to you that you may not even be aware that you are capable of.
Once you have decided on your top preferred senior high track or college course, the next step is to look up schools with the right environment, culture, and education where you can grow. Go to their websites and find out more about their programs. List down all that seems promising. You can then call or message these schools to inquire for further information.
With these five methods, you can be more secure in deciding the right route to your future goals. The next school year will be a fresh start on your journey to becoming life-ready and future-ready. So, which path do you think you’ll go down on?