Life After High School Graduation

The school year has ended, and you’re unsure what to do next. Perhaps you decided to do something because YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. The pressure is on, and you feel as if you do not go to college, have a full-time job, or join the military, you will be considered a failure, left behind, and be told you are not doing anything with your life. Not surprising at all. Your high school years have been filled with taking classes, taking tests, memorizing information, and taking more tests, without someone explaining a direct correlation to how this process relates to your interests. You may also have spent a good amount of time participating in activities, playing sports, and volunteering, all in the name of success after high school. Just exactly how is success defined, and who is defining it?

Before you make a decision that may be costly, waste your time, and make you feel lost and unsure, take some time to do some career exploration. Learn about your likes and dislikes when it comes to the world of work. Can you see yourself inside, behind a desk all day, or working outside in all types of weather? Do you think you would like to operate heavy equipment, manage money, oversee logistics for a large corporation, plan a new community, or repair an aircraft? Maybe you might be interested in creating new recipes, designing a wedding dress, or tracking the latest weather conditions. This list can go on and on. The key is to create a list that you are interested in and explore your options. If this doesn’t spark your interest in making a more informed decision about what to do after graduation, then think about this. For 4 years you have walked the halls of an academic institution where you have been told what to study, where to be, when to arrive, when you can eat, when you can use the restroom, when you can talk, when you can ask a question, and when you can go home. Do you REALLY want to go another 4 years doing just about the same thing, only this time you’re adding debt, without having defined some of your interests?