How to Help Find Your Career in High School

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Welcome to DAY 6 of the Thanksgiving Blog Series.

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Written by Vrushi Patel

Edited by Minna Chow

Designed by Charlotte Picardo

There can be a lot of pressure to figure out the career you want to pursue. Some may have an immediate idea, while others have no idea at all. Determining what you want to do with your life is important, but it shouldn’t make you want to whack your head against a wall. Here are some steps you can take to make career planning just a little bit easier.

Clubs

Take the chance to explore all the different clubs your school offers. Freshman year is the prime time to explore, but don’t hesitate to continue as the years go by. Even if it’s a club that seems a little out of your comfort zone, try it! These are opportunities that may be difficult to find later in life. Most importantly, you may come upon a club that helps you find your interests, which can pave the way to a potential career path.

Determine Your Interests/Strengths

What is it that interests you? Perhaps it’s a school subject you're great at, like science. Or, maybe it’s a hobby like building things or playing sports. Figuring out your interests is a great baseline to help you research for different jobs that relate to what you like to do.

Identify and Research

After determining your interests, research careers that match up. For example, if you love writing, you can consider careers such as journalism and teaching. After identifying various careers and jobs, research them. Try to imagine yourself in the position. If it seems like something you can see yourself doing, dig deeper! If you know anyone with the job, ask them what it’s like.

Courses

Take courses that align with your interests. For example, If you’re interested in the medical field, consider taking classes heavy in science and math. If you’re interested in law, consider taking classes heavy in English and Political science. Choose courses that can help you develop skills and knowledge for a potential future career.

Courses

To understand your career choice even better, consider getting first-hand experience. For example, you can shadow a worker or apply for an internship. First-hand experience can be the best way to understand if a career is right for you.

Remember that the career path you choose doesn’t have to be set in stone. You’re not expected to have it figured out at all, and people change their minds all the time, Be open to new options and experiences; you never know what you might learn about yourself.