Goals for after high school typically fit into three categories: college, work, or a one-year sabbatical for self-discovery.
Transitioning from high school into adulthood can be challenging and requires a good amount of planning, too.
For centuries, pursuing a higher degree right out of high school to maximize your earning potential has been the clear pathway to success.
The blueprint some of our parents and grandparents followed decades ago used to work, but the shift in the economy and sky-rocketing tuition rates has caused a rapid decline in college enrollment overtime.
Millennials are the poster-children for student loan debt.
Since getting a higher education for the average working American is no longer affordable, college students are walking across stages without access to high-paying jobs, enduring underemployment, and working multiple jobs to pay down the hefty price tag lingering over their heads.
Now that many jobs are being replaced with Artificial Intelligence and certain fields no longer require bachelor’s degrees, many people are questioning whether college is worth it?
So, what are some alternative goals to set when you have no plans after high school? What if you choose not to pursue the traditional route?
Many people graduate and go off to college because they want to meet their family’s expectations or to fit in with their peers.
They don’t know what they want to do for the rest of their lives, but get coerced into making long-term decisions at a very young age.
On average, American employees switch careers between 3 to 7 times.
Imagine shelling out thousands of dollars for a degree you may or may not use years down the line after graduation. Some people in college debt never used their degrees at all.
A postgraduate degree doesn’t guarantee that you will be successful. Will you increase your earning potential with one? Maybe.
Business ownership for younger generations, along with gig work and side hustles, is shifting the economy in a different and more sustainable direction.
With Gen Zers and younger Millennials opting out of the corporate workforce altogether, and A.I. replacing millions of jobs, there are more lucrative, sustainable options to consider.
It’s common for high school graduates to enlist in the military, take up a trade, or complete two years at community colleges to determine what they’d like to major in.
Now there are students who are running successful businesses straight out of high school as social media influencers, lifestyle vloggers on YouTube, online boutique owners, digital advertisers, and virtual assistants.
They either forego college or build their own businesses while pursuing their degree.
There are endless ways to make money online. High school and college students are taking advantage of the opportunities that technology brings instead of shunning it.
One stream of income used to be enough back in the day, but times have changed. Setting career goals after high school will help you stay ahead of the curve.
Goals after high school should also focus on personal growth and education.
If you’re not sure where to start on your journey after high school, keep reading goal-friends!
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If you’re unsure of what your educational or career will look like, seek help from your high school career counselor or someone who’s already working in your prospective industry.
I’ve always found learning the different paths professionals took to reach their dream jobs inspiring.
Scheduling coffee chats and career interviews with potential mentors will give you an inside look into the good, the bad, and the ugly of certain industries.
Instead of jumping in head first, you get several options to consider. Some of those coffee talks can help you map out a career plan and even get your foot through the door.
I’ve gotten many job opportunities in college simply by asking questions and getting to know new people.
Most people will recommend building a network with career professionals, but if you don’t find yourself in the room with peers in your industry or aren’t receiving invitations to exclusive networking events, it can be challenging.
Networking online looks completely different now compared to the early 2000s.
Building a network today is creating your own community on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to meet current professionals in your industry as opposed to making surface level connections on LinkedIn.
The game has completely changed.
Let’s say college and climbing the corporate ladder just isn’t in the cards for you. How do you share your talents with the world? Sometimes, it simply starts with putting yourself out there.
Are you an artist? Put your artwork online, make it for sale, enter contests, or display it at local artist events.
Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Starting a business isn’t for the weak. In fact, it may take years to see a profit from all the late nights and early mornings you spent building it, but it’s totally worth it in the end.
Don’t wander aimlessly throughout life after high school. No plan means wasted time.
A “gap year” doesn’t mean you take 365 days to figure life out. You need to develop a career/educational road map during your time off.
Time is on your side as a young adult.
Strategize how you’ll meet your goals after high school early on. Don’t take your youth for granted.
You need a vision for your life. No plans after high school often lead to destructive paths.
When you have nothing to work toward or anything to look forward to, your days may fill up with unproductive behaviors and activities that put you out of alignment with your purpose.
Being content with where you are isn’t always a good thing. People who are comfortable are usually averse to change.
They stay in the same jobs; never move too far away from home. They don’t like to take risks.
While there isn’t anything wrong with these things, people who don’t have the desire to change anything in their lives eventually feel unfulfilled and bogged down with regret.
Instead of creating the life they envision for themselves, they don’t enjoy discomfort or dealing with uncertainty, so they never take a step forward at all.
Some people don’t find it worth the hassle to work too hard when the reward isn’t guaranteed.
Highly successful people are the complete opposite. They didn’t get to where they were in life without a plan.
All of their achievements didn’t occur by happenstance. It’s important to make a commitment to your goals for after high school, and pivot when or if you need to.
Trust me goal-friends, hard work pays off despite the circumstances and setbacks it takes to get there. When you live your life with intention, the rewards will eventually follow.
You don’t have to share your dreams and goals with everyone who asks unless you want to.
Disclose only the details you feel comfortable sharing. Fear of judgment can make you play small. People can’t judge you if they don’t know your plans for the future.
If you have no plans after high school, that’s completely fine. When asked what your plans are, let your friends and family know that you’re still figuring things out.
Your path in life may differ from theirs and that’s okay. Don’t feel ashamed if they have doubts about your future.
Take the time to make the best decision for you. We all make mistakes we need to learn from. That’s a part of life.
Fail forward. At the very least, you’re taking steps towards your dreams and learning along the way.
I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.
