Getting Ready For The Next Step
Kristin advises graduates on how to be successful post-high school.
May marks a truly bittersweet time for the typical high school senior: Final exams. College acceptance. Memorial Day break. Prom. Senior Awards Night. Graduation practice. It all goes by so quickly that you hardly have time to savor it all. Before you know it, you’re throwing your cap in the air, bidding farewell to your high school teachers, and wishing your best friends luck before you pack your bags for college.
It may be overwhelming as your high school career concludes, but there are a number of things that you can do to prepare for the next big step. One of them is to create a basic resume. By the age of 18, you probably don’t have an overwhelming amount of work experience to put on it, but any part-time job should definitely be detailed. Also include any school clubs, groups, organizations, or volunteer work you’ve done. Whether you are preparing to enroll in your classes or join the workforce, a resume for applying to future jobs – full-time and part-time – is invaluable to anyone.
If you already have a part-time job, save as much money as you can, whether it be for college books, tuition, or just your future. Getting into the habit of being smart with your money early and creating a budget will be a skill for life. If you don’t already have work, try to find a position in the field that perhaps you would like to work or major in. This will give you a huge head start before you have to make more significant life decisions.
For those who are attending university in the fall, spend time with your high school friends during the summer and be prepared to keep an open mind when the semester rolls around. You will meet a plethora of people from all over the country and probably the world during your time at college. Making connections with them will only drive your future. Be accessible and talk to everyone you meet!
Kristin, one of RBTM’s PYBrain! guest bloggers, is a Japanese teacher in New Jersey who is dedicated to enriching the lives of many middle and high school students. In her limited spare time, she loves seeing the world, playing Japanese rhythm games, and being front row at rock shows. You can reach her via email at wingate@cranfordschools.org.
