Beginning with the end in mind
The pace of teens today is almost unparalleled with scheduled activities.
Even before the first bell rings at many schools, students participating in certain activities have already logged a few hours of practice. In addition to a day full of mandatory as well as elective classes, many students next, transition to a few hours of after school practice, lessons, and/or work before focusing on homework and falling asleep. In this harried schedule it is not surprising that many, in keeping pace with all they manage, rarely find themselves completing a full night of eight or more hours of sleep before once again embracing a new day.
In keeping with all the facets of a busy teen’s life, sometimes the focus on the next big thing is foregone until it’s almost too late to give it a quality effort. The next hurdle for millions of teens regards educational options post high school. Rather this is a segue into the armed forces, a trade school, a community college, or even a university setting, a variety of questions need to be explored and decisions made fairly early in the game to ensure that students realize the best opportunities for their interests, talents, and resources.
One facet that is paramount is an exploration and identification of career fields of interest. This can be done using online research as well as by attending career fairs or even scheduling visits to institutions of interest to better understand their offerings and opportunities and requirements. There is a great tool available at www.knowhow2go.acenet.edu which helps students considering college to realize the steps to arrive at their destination ready and equipped to be successful. They are first, “Be a Pain.” This is to ensure that everyone knows the student is planning for college and needs the adults in his or her life to facilitate this transition. These helpers may be family members, coaches, teachers, counselors or others who can help connect the student to the right people to set the plan in motion. Step two, is to “Push Yourself.” This means taking the harder classes, not just the ones where a student is assured of an easy “A,” as many institutions assess the rigor not only the GPA in potential applicants. Step three is to “Find the Right Fit.” This simply means that every school is not a match for every student. Each has specific requirements for acceptance and some only select small percentages of even that applicant pool. Other schools may focus on specific programs like nursing or engineering. While many students may not know exactly what they plan to major in when they graduate, having a general idea of at least the field of interest in key in order to ensure that the student’s school is able to meet his needs by providing the courses and experiences necessary to allow him to realize his goals. This is a good time to mention that having goals is vital. If the student doesn’t begin this process with an end in mind, he will struggle to realize whether he is on the proper trajectory along the way. Another way to reference this focus is that failing to plan is planning to fail. This is never a good strategy for success. The fourth step is “Put Your Hands on Some Cash.” Why this may sound a bit comical, it may very well be one of the most critical aspects of future planning. There are a variety of sources of financial aid available if they know how and where to look. First of all there are scholarships from general university settings regarding academic merit, specific colleges, and major-specific venues. Many of these are institution specific, further reinforcing the benefit of knowing the plan. There are grants, state and federal aid, work-study programs, and student loans, just to name a few. There is also FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid. One common denominator in each of these financial avenues, however, is timeliness. The earlier one applies for consideration, the better his odds of maximizing his return.
It may seem like the days of high school are long and limitless with too little time to plan for a future so far away. The reality, however, is that the future is fast approaching. In a time where the days seem long, but the years seem short, it is essential that students in high school truly learn to craft their future by beginning with the end in mind.
Dr. Angela Farmer is a lifelong educator, a syndicated columnist, and an author. An Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership for Mississippi State University, she can be reached at asfarmer@colled.msstate.edu