5 TIPS FOR PROSPECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

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November 28, 2018June 30, 2024By

Inspiration to write a post to high school graduates came to me through various people. Jaimee Dorris, MS Congeniality, first inspired me with her video “How to Get A Real Job: A Note to College Graduates“.  The second was my State Senator who I had the pleasure to hear speak. He talked about the new project funded in our county to create a technical college.  Then, my friend Chad Tycer who teaches welding posted a picture of his first class to graduate. Together these people inspired me to write a letter to high school graduates, scratch that junior high students. They start thinking of the future early, at least I know my nephew is in 6th grade and my brother is already talking about applying for scholarships.

Dear Aspiring High School Graduates,

First, let me commend you for making it to graduation. At this moment you probably think you are ready to take on the world and to start a college education. Well, for the ones who are going to a 4-year college I have advice for you in here, but I really want to talk to those who may not want to take the collegiate route. The graduates who like to work with their hands and want to go into the workforce. I would tell these individuals to consider a Technical College or School to learn a trade.

Thanks to Mississippi State Senator Philip Moran, the Senate, the House, and the executive state officials funding has been set aside for a Vocational Technical College right here in Hancock County, where I live. These technical schools offer classes in drafting, welding, culinary skills, medical assistance, typing, and more. The training you need to get a job. Companies in Mississippi, like Chemers (formerly Dupont), NASA and Ingalls, are looking for workers who are trained in specific trades. Jobs with these corporations can start out higher than ones for traditional 4-year collegiate students. The only difference between the two is one is willing to work with their hands and don’t mind getting dirty.

Recently, when my friend Chad posted a picture of his first welding class to graduate it inspired me to write this post. College is one pearl on my necklace but technical training may be more your speed. These tips are for all graduates to think about.

5 Tips for Prospective High School Graduates
  1. BEFORE PURSUING A DEGREE OR TECHNICAL TRAINING, I SUGGEST SHADOWING DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS IN FIELDS THAT INTEREST YOU. YOU MAY BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A SMALL INTERNSHIP DURING THAT TIME IF YOU TAKE INITIATIVE TO LEARN THE SKILL. A FEW YEARS AGO, I HAD A YOUNG LADY SHADOW ME DURING HER WINTER BREAK DURING HER FRESHMEN YEAR. SHE WAS A QUICK LEARNER AND ABSORBED EVERYTHING I TOLD HER ABOUT THE WEB DESIGN AND SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD. THE FOLLOWING SUMMER, JAIMEE DESIGNS WEB STUDIO GAVE HER A PAID INTERNSHIP POSITION IN WHICH SHE WAS INVOLVED IN THE BUILDING OF VARIOUS WEBSITES.
  2. LEARN TO BUDGET. THIS IS ONE SKILL I WISH I HAD LEARNED EARLY ON IN MY LIFE. SCHOOL CAN BE EXPENSIVE AND THEY ONLY GIVE OUT SO MUCH IN STUDENT LOANS, SCHOLARSHIPS, OR GRANTS. PLUS THERE ARE TIMES YOU MAY NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON SCHOOL AND NOT WORK.
  3. ANOTHER TIP IS TO START SAVING AND PUT THE MONEY INTO AN IRA. DO YOU REALIZE IF YOU INVEST $1000 INTO AN IRA AT 18 YEARS OLD, AND CONTINUE TO TRIBUTE TO IT? WITH INTEREST, YOU COULD BE A MILLIONAIRE BEFORE YOU REACH RETIREMENT. OR IF YOU START THE CAREER PATH, INVEST IN A 401K, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR COMPANY MATCHES BECAUSE AGAIN YOU COULD BE A MILLIONAIRE BEFORE YOU RETIRE.
  4. BE ACTIVE IN STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN TECHNICAL AND COLLEGIATE SETTINGS. STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE USUALLY A CHILD ORGANIZATION OF A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION. FOR INSTANCE, I JOINED THE PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENT SOCIETY OF AMERICA (PRSSA) IN COLLEGE WHICH ALLOWED TO ME TO GO TO CONFERENCES AND NETWORK WITH PROFESSIONALS WHO WERE ATTENDING THE ADJOINING PUBLIC RELATIONS SOCIETY OF AMERICA (PRSA). I THEN LEARNED OF ANOTHER SISTER ORGANIZATION CALLED THE SOUTHERN FEDERATION OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND WHEN I MOVED BACK TO MISSISSIPPI I JOINED THE COASTAL CHAPTER OF THE PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATION OF MISSISSIPPI (PRAM). THE PEOPLE I NETWORKED WITH IN COLLEGE AND EVEN IN THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE STILL A RESOURCE WHEN I NEED ASSISTANCE IN A PROJECT.
  5. ONE PROGRAM I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL IS THE ROTARY EXCHANGE PROGRAM. A STUDENT HAS TO FINISH ALL THEIR CREDITS A YEAR BEFORE GRADUATION AND THEN THEIR LAST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL THEY CAN APPLY TO THE PROGRAM. IF ACCEPTED, THE STUDENT GETS TO SPEND THEIR SENIOR YEAR IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. MY FRIEND JAIMEE DID IT. JAIMEE WENT TO BRAZILL HER SENIOR YEAR AND WITHIN THAT TIME SHE BECAME FLUENT IN PORTUGUESE. IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE SHE HAS CHERISHED. ROTARY IS A SERVICE ORGANIZATION I RECOMMEND GETTING INVOLVED WITH AFTER COLLEGE. THEY DO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL ORGANIZATION CALLED IMPACT. I KNOW MY ALMA MATER HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL HAS THE PROGRAM AND ANOTHER LOCAL SCHOOL BAY HIGH SCHOOL OFFERS THIS PROGRAM. A GREAT THING ABOUT LIVING IN MISSISSIPPI.

Thank you for reading my post. I would love to hear your thoughts below.