When your teen starts to move towards high school, it is time that they begin thinking about what their future will look like. While they may not need to have all of the answers figured out, it helps to have even a basic idea.
The reason it is important to have some idea of what you want to do after high school is because it will determine what areas you will need to focus on during the next couple of years. With parents, teachers, and advisors you can make a plan to help figure out what your next steps might be.
Getting Advice
High school is something that you should take seriously. Depending on what your goals are, the grades you make in high school can determine what opportunities you have available to you. This applies no matter if you are attending a public school, a private school, or you are a teen unschooler. Though the following steps might look a bit different, you can make a plan that will suit you as you start to move through school.
If you are attending a private school or a public school, you will have teachers and advisors available to you. You may have a teacher that you trust who you can talk to about your future and your goals, if not, consider scheduling a meeting with an advisor. When you talk to the advisor, ask them questions and recommendations about programs to get involved with, time management, tutoring, etc. They are there to help you and can provide tons of resources that you may not have known about.
If you are homeschooled or are a teen unschooler you can still get loads of advice. Talk with your parents about what you want to do after school. Perhaps you are involved in extracurricular activities, talk to one of the leaders and see if they have any recommendations for you.
Setting Yourself Up For Success
You want to make sure that you set yourself up for success, which is why it is so important to start discussing your goals with an advisor, teacher, or parent as early as possible. It is also important to get help as early as possible. If you notice yourself struggling with a subject, do not feel embarrassed to ask for help. The sooner you do, the sooner you can overcome those troubles.
When you figure out what you want, you can get involved and build your schedule around the goals you have. If you have been working with a parent, teacher, or advisor they can help you build your schedule to make sure you are prioritizing the correct things and that you are not overloading yourself with work.
It is important to remember that high school is a time that should be fun too. As important as school is, take the time to enjoy spending time with friends and hanging out. If you are overworked, you will not find yourself doing great and will miss out on memories.