As graduation approaches, students often find themselves faced with the typical question: “What’s next?” For many, the automatic answer has long been a four-year college- but that path isn’t the only one worth exploring. In today’s world, opportunities for success and fulfillment come in many different forms, and students are beginning to redefine what their future looks like. This article explores alternative options for finding fulfillment in something you enjoy, beyond a traditional four-year college.
First off, any student who needs help directing what they want to do with their futures after high school can get direct advice from a Career Development coordinator in their school. Here at Green Level, that man is Mr. McAuliffe.
Some career options we often overlook are those that are usually pushed aside, such as non-four-year pathways. An option explained by Mr. McAullife could spark interest in many students.
“Wake Tech has a radiology program, scenography, a lot of things in the healthcare field, which is always growing and is the fastest-growing field of jobs. And you can do these programs in as little as a year,” says McAuliffe
Students often wonder about the benefits and challenges of going straight into the workforce after High School, and there are many. A very big benefit is that you are already getting to build great skills, as well as getting to feel what the real world feels like. But some challenges are that studies still show that the more education you get after high school, the higher potential earnings you might get. Mr. McAuliffe explains this further.
“Considering that, people still think that means a four-year degree, but that can also mean a certificate, a two-year program, anything. All of those have different outcomes, and its still showing that if youre going directly in the workforce and not getting any kind of post, you know, secondary training, it still caps you out. You would be making good money, but there might be a lower ceiling for what you could be making in the future.”
It’s important to know the skills you should start building now that will help you no matter what path you choose. Some skills would be to really start thinking about taking a part-time job to teach you a level of responsibility and organization. It will teach you how to manage your schedule and how to work with others as well.
“How do you listen to a boss? How do you take feedback? I think those are skills that you can’t necessarily gain in the classroom, but you can really only gain by working. So I think if you’ve got the time and you’re trying to build your skills and things for your resume, look for a part-time job.”
One piece of advice the Green Levels Career Development Coordinator would give you is that you don’t have to have your whole life planned and figured out. Sometimes you’re dead set on what you want since the day you could talk, and sometimes you won’t figure out what you’re meant to do until the opportunity comes to you later.
“I would suggest being open to trying lots of different things if life is opening a door for you, try it out and see. Is this something I am interested in? Is this actually a fit for me? So take many of those experiences and use them to kind of decide, this is something I do find appealing to my future, and this is something I don’t. Because knowing what you don’t want to do gets you on the same pathway to know what you like and want to do in the future.”
