What will your plan for success be after high school? In this blog post I will define some traditional options for post high-school life. I will give a detailed look at the course work of general high-school education, talk about options past high-school, and give a few examples and feedback from our journey.

 It can be very difficult to make a decision as massive as how to begin your adult life. 

• Should you pursue education at a 4-year University?
• Should you enter a trade school or community college?
• Should you enter the workforce right away?
• Or even pursue a career in the military?

Or maybe some combination of more than one...

How will you continue after high school?

"If you can keep your head when all about you [lose theirs].  
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,  
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,  
Or being hated don't give way to hating,  
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:."
Excerpts From Poem: If by Rudyard Kipling 
Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/if-by-rudyard-kipling 
 
If you can do all the things above. You'll be more-prepared in any endeavor.

High-School Overview: With it’s Experiences

During the four years of high school every student generally takes;

• two years of a foreign language,
• federally mandated health and gym class,
• general curriculum courses,
• lunch periods,
• and a handful of electives during upperclassmen years.

Depending on which state you live in, the course requirements differ for high school graduation. Each subject you pass in your high school career, you receive a number of credits, recorded on a high-school transcript.

As you finish general classes like Geometry, Biology, and US History. In wide subjects like Math, Science, and Social Studies, once you complete standard courses for a diploma…

You have multiple choices in what courses to take. Some states require a certain number of units among a group of course options. For example…
https://www.ecs.org/high-school-graduation-requirements/

• Math requires: at least 3 courses, including 1 unit of algebra I, 1 unit that includes geometry content, and 1 unit (which may be AP)
• Science requires : at least 3, including biology and either chemistry, physics, anatomy or agricultural science
• Social Studies requires: at least 2, including, 1 unit of U.S. history (or a combination of U.S. history and U.S. govt.)

The goal is to graduate high-school with a decent transcript. So make sure if you aren’t in any advanced classes or failed a class, you still can complete the required courses to graduate.

The point I’m trying to get across is hopefully during your time in high-school you met with your guidance counselor. If you were anything like me you at least met with them rarely enough to switch out of the hard classes.

If you’re in school of any kind, a great habit is to meet with your counselor regularly.

• To change out of hard classes,
• look at the options,
• find what courses you want to take,
• envision your course pathway to graduation

The purpose of education is to instruct kids systematically. The reason so many students aren’t happy with their education is they didn’t find interest in what they learning about. How can you find interest in what you learn?

If you never develop interest in or break free from the common curriculum in school, it’s easy to feel like you “slipped between the cracks.”

Throughout my High School experience I made an effort to observe the average student’s journey through grades 9-12. In my travels;

I have found if you go to High School, sit in class, and do the BARE MINIMUM. You will leave unprepared, stressed out, and unable to manage your time effectively.

Here are some lacking skills learned throughout every high-school experience;

1. Self-responsibility learned by showing to each classroom and having homework
2. Making connections forced through interactions with classmates and teachers
3. Teamwork was achieved through collaboration in classes, small groups, and partners
4. Knowledge and experience compounded from repetitive outcomes and lesson-learning that stuck

These values are only formed over countless repetition and create routines in us. Sometimes it’s a while before you look at your routines and realize you’re not happy with them.

Notice as I listed the 4 components of a high-school experience, they aren’t positive or negative. That’s because over a journey of schooling there are always ups and downs. Just remember all of the negative experiences you go through are there for a reason. Whether you grew after high-school or are still repairing yourself.

Here the most are important values to uphold in your life…

• Engagement going through a daily schedule only wastes your time if you don’t engage in what you want to do. Although you should still engage in important topics even if they are boring or challenging!
• Focus & Self-Control minor assignments and deadlines for tests or projects don’t prompt you to hone your focus, they distract from the over-arching sense of time-management. You need to be able to self-control your focus and attention to every task.
• Critical-Thinking & Problem Solving instead of leisurely sitting by and absorbing information just given off, isolate yourself and your thoughts to think critically about solving the most complex problems.
• Communication just as you communicated to your friends on a daily basis, seeking to gain a story or knowledge from them. You need to approach each interaction with EVERYONE to give them experience, knowledge, and honesty with nothing in return.

High-School Social Experiment!

How does an average high-school student implement my values instead of the general high-school skills?

Advocate for the Best Experience

Now the most important question of this Blog post; What should you advocate for the best school experience?

The answer is very simple;

Self-Advocate, What do you want?

• Sign up to the classes you want, but take some chances on experimenting with something you’ve never tried
• Drop the classes you don’t like, but struggle your way through the tough classes you need
• and if you really need to miss a class or be late turning something in it might be healthier if you take a break to breathe

Obviously you might not want to fail out of every math class, but this begs the question. How can you begin to sculpt your high-school course load to what you want. Then you can begin to find your career…

What do you enjoy doing?

I will show 5 different students, share a little about what they enjoy doing, and where their plans take them.

5 Real Life Example of Post-High School Plans

John Iacino, interested in Computer programming and world history. He took AP US History, AP Computer Science, and programmed in his free time during senior year of high-school. As he avidly debates politics, and just about anything else he decided to pursue Computer Science at Marist College in Dutchess County, New York.

John’s list for determining his college choices:

• computer science program,
• campus (location, building age, & quality),
• student life

The “winning” factor that made Marist College his final choice,

The amount of financial aid money he received from them.

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Damon Diamantes a high-honor student who excelled in a multitude of sports and clubs such as Model UN, NHS, and Link Leaders. After working in a team of business students and participating in The Stock Market Simulation Game, he decided to pursue Finance at the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut.

Damon’s List for determining his college choices:

• price,
• location (relative to home),
• business program

The “winning” factor that made UCONN his final choice

UCONN’s business school ranking

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Cooper Robinson is a gifted guitar player, leader of a band, and a solo artist in the making. He loved playing in multiple bands and Rock Pop Class during senior year. He will undoubtedly save more money than all of us. Pursuing Music Education at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut.

List of Choices & Winning Factor

didn’t search just went with easiest option in-state for cheapest.

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Sam Colossale is a talented artist and musician. He relished his Art classes, lunches with his girlfriend, and hacky-sacking senior year. I would say his ultimate gift was his few and far between Karaoke solos. He is entering into the University of Central Florida at Orlando, Florida as an Undecided.

Sam’s List of Factors for determining college choices:

• Major variety,
• Cost,
• Campus amenities

The “winning” factor that made UCF his final choice

Fell in love with campus at UCF

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RYAN TOWER or me. I’ve always been interested in science, recently discovered an interest in writing, journalism, and media-branding. I spent my time engaging the most as an AP Physics Teacher’s Assistant, working hard in AP Physics 2 class. I challenged myself in Adaptations of Great Literature & Great Films and Public Speaking. I gave a speech to the whole school, and strengthened my love of physics deciding to pursue Mechanical Engineering at University of North Carolina, in Charlotte North Carolina.

My List of Factors for determining college choices:

• location (rural or urban)
• engineering program
• cost & support network

The “winning” factor that made UNCC the final choice

Fell in love with the city of Charlotte, and the community

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In Conclusion

You really want to tailor your high-school classes; to something you find interest in or something new entirely.

To give you some experience on what future plans could be and optimize your high-school experience.

If you can’t easily find something you like, then taste a few new things and create a career around what you love

After all, the Passions, Interests, & Hobbies we perpetuate make us who we are. The time that we spend doing what we enjoy improves not just US, but THOSE AROUND US, and THE WORLD AROUND US!