| Are you a high school senior who is staring graduation | | | | learning all you can about yourself through these |
| in the face and you still don't have a clue as to what | | | | career resources. Take a ton of notes. Schedule |
| you want to do with the rest of your life? | | | | another meeting with your parents and show them |
| Take a deep breath. This is not as hard as it seems. I | | | | everything you've learned. If you have another trusted |
| am a mom who has helped her own seniors navigate | | | | adult in your life, talk with him or her about what you're |
| the shark-infested career waters and listened to their | | | | learning about yourself, too. |
| own screams of "I need help deciding what career to | | | | 3. You'll start to see a picture emerge. |
| choose!" | | | | What career fields have popped up from your |
| Here are some steps you can take that will make you | | | | research? You should have a handful by now. Go |
| feel much, much better. | | | | back to your guidance counselor and ask where you |
| 1. Talk to your parents. | | | | can find accurate information about each of these |
| Especially if you haven't already. Try to stay calm and | | | | career fields. There is also a lot of information available |
| focused during this conversation. Here's what you | | | | online through trade journals and government labor |
| need to remember about your parents. They really, | | | | departments. If you can, talk to someone who is |
| really, really want you to succeed. And they are | | | | already working in the careers you are researching. |
| probably willing to help you in a variety of ways, but | | | | Dig, dig, dig and find out all you can about the careers |
| they need to hear from you, too. | | | | that are interesting to you. How much do they pay? |
| So let them know that you are having a tough time | | | | Where can you find them (do you want to live in a city |
| deciding on career ideas. Tell them you are going to do | | | | or rural area?)? What kind of educational requirements |
| some serious research over the next few weeks to | | | | do they have? You get the picture. |
| try and get a clearer picture of what path you should | | | | 4. The money. |
| take. Ask them for any insight they can give you as to | | | | If you are in the US, there are a tremendous amount |
| what they think would be a good fit for you. | | | | of financial aid programs available to help you attend |
| Then listen. Very carefully. | | | | college. Since you're already a senior, there's probably |
| Here's the deal. Your folks have lived with you a long | | | | no time left to improve your grades or take the |
| time. Probably longer than anyone else. They have | | | | courses that you now know you'll need in college. |
| unique insights into your character and abilities. You | | | | Simply learn from that lesson that next time it will |
| need these insights. | | | | make things easier for you if you look ahead a bit, |
| They probably are a bit biased, too. They want the | | | | make a plan and be committed. After all, you are |
| best for you; the trick is their ideas about what's best | | | | investing in yourself! |
| and your ideas about what's best for you may not | | | | Again, talk to your parents and your guidance |
| match exactly. That's the part where you need to | | | | counselor about money for college. Most college |
| stay calm. Think of this as a fact-gathering mission. Be | | | | students pay for their education through a combination |
| objective. Take notes (that will impress your folks, trust | | | | of cash, loans, scholarships, work study and part time |
| me). Then keep your end of the bargain by rolling up | | | | jobs. You can, too. |
| your sleeves and doing some serious career | | | | Go to places like to research scholarships that would |
| research...immediately. | | | | be appropriate for you. Your parents will probably |
| 2. Talk to your school guidance counselor. | | | | have to fill out the FAFSA. That is simply a financial aid |
| Most high schools these days are a wealth of | | | | form that the US government provides to standardize |
| resources for your career research. Think about it. | | | | the scholarship process. Your folks will need to fill it out |
| Your high school's mission, on some level, is to prepare | | | | even if they believe that you are not eligible for any |
| you to be a productive adult in society. That means | | | | need based college money. The FAFSA gets used to |
| career research is one of their primary tasks! | | | | determine more than just that, trust me! Your guidance |
| Take advantage of everything your guidance | | | | counselor can fill you in on the details. |
| counselor can offer you career-wise. Things like... | | | | Feeling better yet? The sooner you get started on this |
| * Career aptitude tests and assessments | | | | process, the sooner you will be looking forward to |
| * Personality testing | | | | graduation with great confidence. Remember, "I need |
| * Meetings with college representatives | | | | help deciding what career to choose" is actually one of |
| * Financial aid information | | | | the smartest things you can say right now. Saying that |
| * Vocational job training opportunities | | | | out loud can get you started on the path to your |
| * Career information | | | | wonderful future. |
| Don't be shy and ask lots of questions. Dive right into | | | | Go for it! |