Joining and enlisting in the military is a very significant success that many find. Hard-work, determination, and mindset are key aspects upon being in the military. Out of high school, you can begin basic training and go on to different specialities based on your skill set. In the state of South Dakota, joining the SD National Guard will have many benefits towards future education, future careers, and future successes. If you have the right outlook, the military may be a path for you!

Heading into the workforce after high school is smart decision based on your skills, mindset, and all around being. Higher education isn't for everyone, and that ok! Many can still be successful without a college degree. However, it comes from your ability to understand, mature, and learn with our moving world. Starting a business, working in rural areas, or any other path that can lead to success! Accomplishments can come in many forms, and starting in the workforce can lead to such.

Do you want to prepare for the workforce? Participating in a paid or volunteer apprenticeship can help you gain experience and develop a sense of where you belong! Having a guide and mentor can lead you on the right path for your future, and yet also allow you to explore different avenues! Doing an apprenticeship can lead you one step higher on the career ladder and towards your success!

Not sure what you want to do next? Taking a gap year to explore, discover, and uncover new interests and a potential future for yourself. Explore the world, take a few online classes, or even meet new people and join new groups. Whether you eventually decide on attending a college, or fall for a career path: taking a gap year can be beneficial for growth and discovery.

SDMyLife is an online career exploration and academic planning program for all South Dakota 6-12 grade students and educators. We are here to help students become prepared for life after high school. SDMyLife's goal is to help students understand how their interests, skills, and knowledge relate to real-world postsecondary and career opportunities. SDMyLife is packed with activities, resources, and information to help students in each step along the way. South Dakota offers excellent immersive career exploration opportunities to help students discover their interests. 

Want to learn more about a certain career? Perhaps you'd like to take a quiz to see what skills you have and what career would be best for you. All of these services can be provided through O*NET. Run by the U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET allows you to explore different occupations and see their desired outlook, average salary, and educational requirements. Having this knowledge on hand can help prepare you for the workforce and even college education!

You’re passionate. Maybe it’s about music or nature. Fashion or Fortnite. Something completely random or something you don’t even know about yet. The point is, no matter what you’re into, you have options for turning what you love, into what you do. Futurescape is a free tool that shows you education and career possibilities related to your passions and steps for pursuing them. The more you use Futurescape, the more it learns from you and provides personalized results. Don’t just prepare for the future. Prepare for your future. (Futurescape)

College Board has a lot to offer, and one of those services includes career exploration! You can take a personalized quiz and be matched with results that best fit your personality, interests, and goals for the future! Not to mention, College Board also can provide information for each career. Such information can include the educational requirements, average salary and pay, and even the current job outlook. College Board's career prep resources are very useful and can be utilized for free!

Apart from college prep resource and scholarship exploration, Encourage also offers a variety of tools to help guide high school students toward their career goals. Not only can they match you to careers that best fit your needs, but they also provides articles and resources pertaining to career research, interview prep, and resume creation. Encourage is a marvelous tool to utilize for passion searching and long-term goal-setting!

Talking to your local school advisors; which can include your principal, school counselor, or any other trusted school official; can help guide you to the right path. College, workforce, and even military options can all be discussed and weighed out with yourself- all with the help of trusted individuals. This resource not only promotes leadership and initiative, but also strong communciation skills. It is highly recommended that you consult a such advisor at least 2-3 times in your high school career.