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Teen Survival Guide

Home : Teen Survival Guide : Planning your future

Thinking about a career

graduate

What do you want to be when you grow up? Whatever it is, you will learn that there are many paths to a career. Even though you are young, it's not too early to start working toward school and career goals. Here's how:

  1. Learn your interests and talents by doing the exercise on pages 64-65.
  2. Find out what careers there are for people who like what you like. Check out www.bls.gov/k12/ for ideas. Write a career idea that interests you here: 
      
    ___________________________________________________ 
      
    ___________________________________________________
  3. Find out what kind of training or education you will need to do this job.
  4. Figure out what you can do now to get ready for a job you might like. A parent or guardian, guidance counselor, or teacher can help you to think through what you can do.
    • Classes I can take: 
        
      ____________________________________________________________________
    • School clubs/activities I can try: 
        
      ____________________________________________________________________
    • Community organizations I can volunteer with: 
        
      ____________________________________________________________________
    • People I can talk to: 
        
      ____________________________________________________________________
    • Places I can go to learn more: 
        
      ____________________________________________________________________

Student sitting outside

You can repeat this exercise with new interests as they come up. Also, you can take on a job to gain experience once you are old enough and ready to work.

What about college?

After high school, you can choose to begin a career right away or continue school by going to college. A college education is needed to do many jobs. And, you have to have some training after high school for almost all jobs. Many people are able to work and take college classes at the same time. If college is a goal, talk to your guidance counselor to find out what you can do now to get ready.

To: girlshealth.gov
From: Melissa (age 14), Cincinnati, Ohio

There's so much pressure for me to get good grades. How can I explain to my parents that I am doing my best?

Parents want the best for their children, which is why it might seem like they are being hard on you. Talk to your parents about how they make you feel. Also, tell them what you are doing to keep up with your schoolwork and offer to keep them updated on how you are doing.

 

Content last updated February 12, 2008

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health.

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