I wish we had that when I was in School!

I went to my high school reunion this weekend and had lots of opportunities to describe my job as School-to-Career Coordinator.

The immediate response from most of my school-mates was “I wish they had that when I was in school!”

Too many of us were shuffled off to college, since the high schools were convinced that getting us into college would ensure financial success.

But most of us majored in something we were truly not suited for, and many don’t want to talk about their job, because it’s just something to do to pay the bills. Think of how much better the world (not to mention the economy) would be if more people found the career path that fired up their passion. Our School-to-Career programs can do that!

We need to help our secondary students figure out what they want to be so we can help get them into the appropriate postsecondary education program. Everyone needs some kind of postsecondary education. It might be a university, community college, trade school, or on-the-job training, but whatever it is, it should be preparing each student for the career that is best suited to their interests and needs.

I spent a lot of money studying Electrical Engineering in college before transferring into Technology Education. Up until that time, I’m not sure if I had ever met an electrical engineer or really knew what one did on a regular basis. I was in engineering because I was good at math and built kits from Radio Shack, not because I had any real interests in that field.

When I was in high school, we did not have career fairs, job shadowing, internships, or any other way to meet business professionals to talk about careers. If they did, I was not aware of it, probably because I was earmarked for college.

If I had the opportunity to talk to an electrical engineer while in high school, I might have switched majors in high school rather then in college. (Oh, the dollars I spent on college!)

It is important for our kids to talk to business professionals, not only to gain the social graces of conversing with an adult, but also to gain professional insight into the careers that they have chosen to explore.

I want the next generation to go to their high school reunion talking proudly about their work since we gave them the opportunity in high school to explore their personal interests, explore all careers, have conversations with business professionals, and get on the right track to postsecondary education and a rewarding career.

Well, that’s the way that I see it. Let me know what you are thinking, and stop by again soon for more of my ramblings.