30 Questions to Evaluate Yourself

• What aspects of your high school years have you enjoyed the most? Have you missed anything during this time? If you could live this period over again, would you do anything different?

• What values are most important to you? What do you care most about? What concerns occupy most of your energy, effort and thoughts?

• How do you define success? Are you satisfied with your accomplishments to date? What do you want to accomplish in the years ahead?

• What kind of person would you like to become? Of your unique gifts and strengths, which would you most like to develop? What would you most like to change about yourself?

• Is there anything you have ever secretly wanted to do or be? If you had a year to go anywhere and do whatever you wanted, how would you spend that year?

• What events or experiences have shaped your growth and way of thinking?

• What are your academic interests? Which courses have you enjoyed the most? Which courses have been most difficult for you?

• What do you choose to learn when you can learn on your own? Consider interests pursued beyond class assignments: Topics chosen for research papers, lab reports, independent projects; independent reading; school activities; job or volunteer work. What do your choices show about your interests and the way you like to learn?

• How do you learn best? What methods of teaching and style of teaching engage your interest and effort the most?

• How would you describe your school? Is learning and academic success respected there? Has your school environment encouraged you to develop your interests, talents and abilities? Have you felt limited by your school environment in any way? What would you preserve or change about your school if you had the power and money to do so?

• How much do you genuinely like to read, discuss issues, and exchange ideas? What has been your most stimulating intellectual experience in recent years?

• How well has your school prepared you for college? In what areas of skill or knowledge do you feel confident? In what way, if any, do you feel inadequately prepared for college study? Have you been challenged by your courses?

• Have you worked up to your potential in high school? Is your academic record an accurate measure of your ability and potential? Are your SAT scores a reflection of you? What do you consider your best measure of potential for college work?

• Are there outside circumstances (in your recent experience or background) which have interfered with your academic performance? Consider such factors as: after-school job, home responsibilities or difficulties, excessive school activities, illness or emotional stress, parental pressure, English not spoken at home, problems of course scheduling or other factors which are unique to your recent experience or background.

• What activities do you most enjoy outside the daily routine of school and other responsibilities? Which activities have meant the most to you? Looking back, would you have made different choice?

• Do your activities show any pattern of commitment, competence or contribution?

• How would others describe your role in your school or home community? What do you consider your most significant contribution?

• After a long, hard day, what do you most enjoy doing? What do you do for fun? What do you do for relaxation?

• How would you describe your school, family and home town? How has your environment influenced your way of thinking? How have your interests and abilities been acknowledged or limited by your school and home?

• What do your parents and friends expect of you? How have their expectations influenced the goals and standards you set for yourself? What pressures have you felt to conform?

• What has been the most controversial issue in your school or community? How does the issue concern you? What has been your reaction to the controversy? What is your opinion about the issue?

• Have you ever encountered people who thought and acted differently than you did? What did you learn about yourself and others?

• What distresses you most about the world around you? Assuming the obligation and opportunity to change the world, where would you start?

• Do you have any current heroes or heroines? Any historical heroes?

• What books have you read which have changed your way of thinking?

• How would someone you know describe you? Your finest qualities? Your most conspicuous shortcomings? Would you agree with their assessment? How have you grown or changed during your high school years?

• Which relationships are most important to you and why? Describe the people whom you consider your best friends. Your best critics? Your best advocates? In what ways are they similar to or different from you?

• Describe the groups in your school. Which ones do you feel you belong to? Which ones do you feel alienated from? What kind of people do you associate with and admire? Generally, how do you respond to people who think and act differently than you do?

• How are you influenced by others who are important to you? What pressures have you felt to conform? How important to you are approval awards and recognition? How do you respond to pressure, competition or challenge? How do you react to failure, disappointment or criticism?

• How do you feel about choices and making decisions for yourself? What are the best decisions you have made recently? How much do you rely on direction advice or guidance from others? Have you ever chosen anything because it was new and interesting?

If after your self-assessment you believe the most appropriate direction for you will be the military or full-time employment, start to investigate NOW.

• Research the career and military files for information related to your area of interest.

• Speak directly with recruiters for information regarding the various branches of the Armed Services. Most of all, talk with your counselor about what you would like to do.

The recruiting offices and their telephone numbers are listed below:

Army and Marine Corp.

281 Middle Country Road, Selden, NY 11784

U. S. Army: 631-732-1986

Marine Corps: 631-220-5159

Air Force

450 Waverly Avenue, Suite 10, Patchogue, NY 11772

U.S. Air Force: 631-475-0220

U.S. Navy

Plaza Mall, 281 Middle Country Road, Selden, NY 11772

U.S. Navy: 516-218-1601