Things To Do After High School

High school graduation is a major accomplishment. To get to this point, you had to complete 12 years of school. So what do we do next? One important objective might be to find a job.

There are various ways to get there. Making a road map to get where you want to go and deciding what you want to do are the keys. 

Read More: What is the Hardest Grade in High School? Why?

What Options Do You Have Now That You’ve Graduated?

After graduating, you have a variety of options for how you want to begin the next phase of your life. Relocation is common, frequently to one’s hometown, occasionally to new provinces, or even to a foreign country. You can apply for an entry-level position in your preferred industry if you’re prepared to start your career.

Or you can think about other opportunities, such as volunteering at an interesting organization, to gain special experience and marketable skills in a less traditional way. Whatever you decide, make sure your post-graduation path fits with your passion and advances your career by taking your interests and options into consideration.

Options For What To Do After Graduation

Go To College

 It’s typical for many high school graduates to enroll in a traditional college straight out of secondary school and begin an undergraduate degree program. The benefits of earning your degree are typically understood from a young age, as are the concepts of the college experience. Knowing your academic interests is important if you decide to attend a traditional four-year college.

In spite of this, you can enroll in college as an undecided major, complete some general education requirements, and then take your time figuring out your major after you’ve already started attending classes.

Earn A Degree Online

 You can obtain a degree online with more benefits and flexibility, just like students who attend traditional colleges. Accessible educational opportunities are the goal of online institutions like the University of the People.

The University of the People offers tuition-free certificate programs as well as degree programs that students can choose from. You’ll gain from being able to learn at your own pace and with students from all over the world, in addition to saving money on your degree.

Get A Job

There are jobs available even though it might seem difficult to find one with just a high school diploma. Even though many of the highest-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree still call for training, some of them offer on-the-job instruction. Examples could be home health aides, casino game dealers, bus and train conductors, and so forth.

If nothing catches your attention, work as a barista, waitress, or retail associate in your preferred establishment. Hire yourself out at a bookstore if you enjoy reading. Ask your neighborhood gaming store if you enjoy playing them. Find a job that relates to your current hobbies. You’ll not only have more fun, but you’ll also be more likely to let opportunities for advancement in your career come your way.

Travel Abroad

After graduation, there will be no more homework, tests, teachers, or extracurricular activities. It might be the perfect opportunity to use those foreign languages and see the world in person that you have spent so much time studying in textbooks. Consider Bailey Theado, who postponed starting college in favor of a meticulously planned trip that included both volunteer work and travel.

In her journey, Bailey traveled through Nepal, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, and Thailand before arriving in Denmark and France. This included a volunteer stint in Tibet, a project on the Akha hill tribe, and a photojournalism internship.

Bailey claimed that in order to determine whether four years of college would be financially worthwhile, she needed a year to figure out her exact interests and preferences. “She asserted that the year immediately following high school is the ideal time to identify your true passions. Be mindful that, if done correctly, a decision like this isn’t impulsive.

From two years of working as a neighborhood part-time nanny, archivist, and digitizer of family albums, Bailey was able to save $7,000 for her trip. Prior to takeoff, it required careful scheduling, Googling, and planning.

Study Abroad

You might become seriously bitten by the travel bug once you graduate from high school. A study abroad program might be the best option if you want to travel the world but don’t want to forgo continuing your education. Study abroad programs give students the opportunity to travel and learn from their chosen curricula while living in a foreign country.

You can do this to increase your career opportunities, learn a new language, make new friends, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Take A Gap Year

Taking a gap year entails using the year following graduation for travel and exploration. In addition, it gives you a chance to unwind and recharge as you get ready to enter the workforce after several years of diligent study.

Typically, those trying to identify their passions and interests find it helpful. You can discover your interests by trying new things in life, meeting new people, and gaining new experiences. The same goes for developing relevant soft skills like communication and problem-solving, as well as experiencing a different culture.

Learn To Cook A Solid Meal

For a while, ramen noodles might seem like a good idea, but eventually, your body needs nutrients from all the major food groups. It’s a good idea to acquire some cooking skills before leaving the nest. Start out small with a straightforward spaghetti recipe if you’re not a big cook. Use your family as test subjects while you still have a captive audience because practice makes perfect.

Become A Content Creator

Speaking of pastimes, if you haven’t been living under a rock for the past few years, you are probably already aware that you can earn a respectable living by creating content for the internet, particularly on sites like YouTube or Instagram. Now, you might be thinking “I lack the skills necessary to succeed as an influencer.”

To start with, you’re probably mistaken about that. The majority of the prominent influencers you see on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram didn’t develop their brands and fan bases overnight. It requires planning, aptitude, tolerance, a ton of repetition, and consistency. Luckily, there are plenty of resources available online to help you figure it out.

In addition, not all content producers are glitzy, jet-setting lifestyle vloggers. You can start making content about a hobby you excel at or are knowledgeable about. Look around YouTube to see how DIY, crafts, gardening, hiking, makeup tutorials, video games, travel, and other topics that you can think of perform.

Consider what these creators are doing and consider whether you could accomplish that. Most likely, you’ll need to learn some skills like video editing and filming. You’ll pick up a lot of useful skills and have a blast, even if you decide to pursue something else in the end.

Try A Trade

Consider learning a trade if you like doing practical, hands-on work. In the U.S. and elsewhere, there is a growing talent shortage in trade jobs, with 62 percent of firms already struggling to fill positions.

The demand for welders, machine operators, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, technicians, nurses, and many other trade occupations is increasing.
Technical diplomas and degrees take much less time than a four-year college, and many trades can be learned on the job through apprenticeships or part-time courses.

Always Be Learning

The best investment you can make is making the time to teach yourself how to be a lifelong self-directed learner if you remember nothing else from this post.

Employers seek motivated, adaptable workers who can learn and relearn skills and increase their value to the company, in addition to the obvious benefit of being able to teach oneself in-demand skills. You can learn just about anything today on your own thanks to the wealth of resources available.

Try New Things, Even (especially) If They Scare You

Whatever you choose to do after school, be sure to actively explore new experiences and think back on them. You’ll discover what kind of work truly fulfills you the sooner the more you sample and experiment with working in various positions and industries.
Act in ways that frighten you.

For instance, if you hate public speaking, don’t hide from it – join Toastmasters and practice until you’re not only comfortable but confident speaking in front of a crowd. Do phone conversations make you nervous? Take a temporary job in support or outbound call center.

The more you face the fears that you perceive as your “weaknesses,” the faster you’ll grow personally and professionally.

Join The Military

Joining the military is always an option if you are looking for a way to make a difference while receiving valuable career skills. In the Army, for example, you can train for valuable STEM jobs in engineering, technology, science, and even web design. Other benefits of joining the military include free rent, housing, and health insurance. You’ll likely get to see parts of the world you might otherwise not see and meet like-minded people in the process.

Of course, not everyone is suited for the military. You’ll have to meet certain health requirements to enroll. You’ll also have to be willing to sacrifice much of your time and energy to serve your country, especially in times of conflict. However, a lot of people find careers in the military to be very rewarding.

Start A Business

 While many prosperous businesses (such as Facebook. Some people may graduate from high school with the desire and ability to launch a business right away, as was the case with Google, and Snapchat) was founded by college students. You might want to try it if you have a workable idea, the money to get started, and the tenacity to finish it.

As an alternative, even if you choose to enroll in college first, you can start working on your business whenever you have free time in order to establish your proof of concept. 

Find Volunteer Opportunities

You can learn a lot by volunteering, especially if it’s in a field that interests you or relates to a long-term career goal. Soft skills like leadership, communication, task management, flexibility, and time management are among the hard skills you can learn.

These transferrable skills will enhance your abilities and elevate your value as an employee once you begin working. By providing a networking opportunity, volunteer work can also result in a full-time position elsewhere.

Don’t Worry About What You’re Going To Do “For The Rest Of Your Life”

The idea that you’re supposed to figure out “what to do with the rest of your life” is a myth. 30-year careers on one track are obsolete today. In 2019, around 21 percent of millennials said that they had changed jobs within the past year, according to a Gallup poll.

Another survey found that 58 percent of millennials said they plan to change jobs this year, in pursuit of better learning and growth opportunities. According to the same study, 89% of respondents said they would switch jobs for the right organization or position.

No one cares how long you worked as a barista or a pizza delivery person, especially if you can clearly articulate that you hopped around in pursuit of personal growth. Contrary to conventional wisdom, you should stay in every job for at least a year or two to avoid coming across as flaky to future employers.

Conclusion

The options are virtually limitless when deciding what to do after high school, as you can see. When making your plans for life after high school, it’s important to consider both your immediate and long-term needs and objectives.

You can find solace in the knowledge that you can always change direction or modify your choice if necessary, despite the fact that it can be a stressful exercise to consider.