Five Ways to Prepare for Life After High School

Choosing your path after high school can be intimidating. And, while you may not know what you’re going to wear to school tomorrow, what class you want to take next semester, or your current plans for the summer, there are still ways to look ahead to what’s next after high school. It’s also good to know that plans can change – and you can always change your mind. The important thing is that you investigate your options, so you’re prepared to take on whatever you decide to do next! 

The annual Life After High School college and career fair is coming up on Wednesday, October 25, from 6-8 p.m. at Todd Beamer High School, and it’s a great time to dip your toes into the sometimes-scary world of college and career and turn your hopes for the future into action. So, rally your friends, bring your family, and use the event to gather information about the options available to you after graduation! 

Here are five ways to prepare for Life After High School: 

1. Review the list of booths 
   First things first, check out which colleges, businesses, and programs will be available. Make note of the ones that interest you – even if it’s only a little. Then, choose at least two booths that don’t interest you at all. Why?! Because you never know – you may have a change of heart! Ever thought you didn’t like a particular food or disliked a dish when you were younger, but then tried it was good? Yeah, the same thing can happen here. Once you’ve created your list, write down at least one question to ask the representative. 
    
2. Select at least one workshop or panel discussion 
   This is where you can get into the nitty-gritty about certain topics and gain valuable insight on how to proceed forward. If you have no clue about how to pay for college, you might choose a session about Financial Aid. If you’re more interested in understanding the college experience, you might sit in on the HBCU panel or attend the Playing Sports in College workshop. Just make sure to carve out 30 minutes for a deep dive of information. Your future self will thank you. 
    
3. Write down all of your dream jobs 
   Think about what jobs you think you’d enjoy and make a list. If you’re having trouble, try taking the Interest Profiler Assessment for possible ideas. You’ll have the chance to ask questions about these careers at the fair!  
    
4. Review the outstanding tasks of your High School and Beyond Plan 
   If you don’t know yet, completing all tasks on your High School and Beyond Plan is required to graduate from high school. So beyond getting good grades, you’ll want to make sure you are paced to finish the plan before the end of your senior year. Luckily, if you need help with this, there will be a High School and Beyond Plan open lab at Life After High School, where you can get support and advice from FWPS counselors. 
    
5. Prepare an elevator pitch 
   An elevator pitch is what you share when you want to give a quick overview of something. It’s usually used to sell something, but in this case, it would be to highlight all the amazing things you are involved in at school, along with extracurricular activities, volunteering, and jobs. There will be representatives from colleges and companies at the fair, and it’s helpful to think about your strengths, interests, and experience in advance so you can highlight yourself.  

These are just a few suggestions to prepare for the Life After High School college and career fair, but simply showing up to the event and exploring the various booths, workshops, and panels will give you a head start on figuring out your unique path after high school. 

We look forward to seeing you there! Learn more about Life After High School at www.fwps.org/LAHS.