Craig Perrier
The first high school I worked at in the late ’90s had an elective course designed to prepare seniors for life after high school. As you may suspect, it was a popular class – innovative, unconstrained by state mandates, student-focused, and made explicit connections between life and the course students were taking. Nevertheless, discussions about it being a requirement and not an elective were regular.
What was unique about the course was that students were asked to create a “Mentor Network.” For context, this is pre-internet ubiquity, so finding answers and having instant access to information was not in the palm of your hand. Regardless, a web search couldn’t discover what occurred during the course. Contrastingly, what did happen was applied to learning. The skills and mindsets that could be taught mean schools can be supported to achieve those outcomes fill gaps, and produce new opportunities. So, how can your organization be involved with preparing students for their future?
When I asked current college students about the topic of this article, “help with time management” was the most shared area of unpreparedness. Supporting this skill set are the practices of goal setting and motivation. We all get 24 hours a day. Successfully personalizing for students how to prioritize and use those hours is a service everyone can use.
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Taking Advantage of Opportunities:Â Â We all have comfort zones; we act and think.
But college should be a time to expand those comfort zones. One way to do that is to seek opportunities beyond the perimeter of security actively.
Instilling in students that their years in college are finite and the opportunities to study abroad, join a club, demonstrate, and attend a lecture are valuable only if they participate.
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Advocating for Yourself:Â Being your own biggest fan is a desirable quality. Luckily I can be learned and develop.
High Schools typically have a multitude of supports available with easy access. Parents are also regular advocates.
In college, that should change. Developing a proactive disposition that includes knowing how to talk with professors and navigate organizational offices. Access leaders will benefit students in college and beyond.
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How to End 12th Grade: My hunch is that if you asked seniors what graduation commencement means, most would say that it is the end of their time in high school. Making the transition, the start  of life after high school should be a maturing, life-changing opportunity. Having an “I know how to…” guidance reference that addresses social, financial, political, and personal realities that are on the horizon would support their launch into adulthood. Helping students learn what they need to know and do to succeed is educational gold.
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As you explore education’s landscape, it will be valuable to note the variety in schools’ infrastructures, curriculums, and offices. How do these organizational components prepare students to leave one school for a very different one? Each student will take a toolkit with them to use in college. Helping to stock, use, and update the toolkit is where you come in.
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