Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. At some point during their years at MHS, all students will take a Career Interest Inventory. This will be a survey that should assist in the identification of areas of interest or potential career pathways.
In your lifetime you will work (at something) for about 86,000 hours, or 2,150 weeks, or 43 years. Since you are going to spend so much time working, you should find work that you are good at and that you enjoy. How do you find out what you might be good at and enjoy? Like anything else, you ‘try-before-you-buy.’ You try on clothes before you buy them, you test-drive a car before you buy it, and you should try out a few careers to help you figure out what will work for you.
Trying-out careers is really pretty easy! Participate in job shadowing opportunities, participate in work-study opportunities, apply for independent study opportunities where you can be on a work site, and VOLUNTEER. Volunteering to spend an afternoon helping at a business/industry that you are interested in is a great way to learn more about careers. All of these opportunities are available here at McPherson High School/McPherson Alternative Center. Take advantage of them!
In his book, Teenagers Preparing for the Real World, Chad Foster gives 12 pointers for teenagers wondering how to get ready for life after high school.
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Find your passion.
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Buy an address book and fill it (with the names/addresses of people you meet -- and keep in touch with them.)
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Meet all kinds of people.
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Ask a million questions.
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Stay in touch with everyone.
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Read everything you can.
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Uncover your natural talents.
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Try a few jobs before college or university.
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Dream and pursue your dreams.
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Always do the right thing.
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Volunteer for community service.
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Remember, success is a journey, not a destination.