DAIRY ST R
Presents:
EDUCATION & CAREER CONNECTIONS DECEMBER 25, 2021
Stick to your path What are your plans for after high school? What do you want to do with your life? These are questions high school students get bombarded with. I am guilty of asking my own students these questions. I nd myself apologizing shortly after as I recall getting hit with these questions all the time. Discovering career interests, researching postsecondary programs and creating future plans can be both daunting and rewarding. Couple this with everything else going on in a student’s life – work, athletics, activities and multiple forms of learning over the past two years – and their plates are full. As a high school agriculture teacher, one of the by Tyler Warren most rewarding parts of my University of MN graduate job is listening to the future Eden Valley-Watkins ag aspirations and plans my teacher, FFA advisor students have. Additionally, reconnecting with graduated students to hear how their schooling and careers are going is equally rewarding. Through my lens as a high school teacher, here are some things students can keep in mind as they work through the process of furthering their education. It’s never too early to begin thinking about this. Know your interests, skills Very few students know what their life-long dream job is. I love my job, but I tell my students I’m still trying to gure out what I want to be when I grow up. As students ponder career and post-secondary plans, it is incredibly important for them to research what the career entails. Often, individuals have a general idea or perception of what a specic career might look like. However, our perceptions of careers may not always be reality. Take the time to research credentials, employment opportunities and skills needed. Figuring out what you don’t want to do is equally as important as guring out
what you want to do. If you’re interested in agriculture, but not sure what specic career you want, that is OK. If you’re someone who does not have a general area of interest, hone in on your skills and talents. Once you identify your skills and talents, you’ll be able apply them to specic industries and jobs. Use your network “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” I remembering hearing this phrase in college and like to relay this message to my students. All the jobs and internships that I have had have been connected to my network of people. Students should use their network to gather more information about colleges, programs of study and careers. Use relatives, family friends, teachers, coaches and other individuals in your life to gain information. These may be informal interviews, job shadows, tours and more. These experiential learning opportunities show a truer representation than a website or brochure may provide. Pursue your goals Peer pressure and insecurities can surface too easily when deciding or sharing plans. Students should not choose a college because someone else wants them to go there. Likewise, students should not deter from a career path based on other’s opinions. I attended high school during a time where four-year colleges were the big push. Not all students will excel at a four-year college, nor do all students need to attend a four-year college. The demands for careers that require a two-year degree, certicate or apprenticeship are rising. The trades are also in high demand. I teach a home maintenance class where students learn residential wiring, plumbing and construction. I’m quick to tell students the demand for these jobs are high and often provide a salary higher than mine – something that always perks up their attention. Choosing something you are passionate about will offset the pressure and stress we all encounter in life. The past two years threw many curve balls. From a
teacher’s standpoint, I had never encountered so many breaking points and stress. All the things I love about my job – the students I teach, my love for creating moments of learning and my passion for education – got me through. My need to obsessively plan and stick to a plan works well for me in the classroom. When I transition to helping on the family dairy farm, I’ve learned to let go of things like the 20% chance of a storm that actually produces a thunderstorm when we are trying to chop hay. While this causes me great stress, the enjoyment of working with family and farming ultimately drives my purpose. Get ahead of the game with applications College applications are opening up earlier each year. Students should be aware of deadlines for their perspective programs. Take the time to work with your school’s guidance councilor to answer questions and receive needed materials. Students can never apply for too many scholarships. Whenever I hear students groan about lling out scholarship applications, I’m quick to share the potential for their rate of return. Yes, they may invest ve hours in lling out a lengthy application, but let’s say they are awarded $1,000. They just earned $1,000 by investing their time, not money. To boot, it was like working for $200 per hour.
Di Discovering i career iinterests, researching post-secondary programs and creating future plans can be both daunting g and rewarding. No matter what h your ffuture path h may bbe, take k the h time to ponder, process and plan. This is an exciting time that will provide life lessons, success, setbacks, growth, responsibilities and, hopefully, fun. Stick to your path and use your network of support in helping you reach your career goals and aspirations.