Middle school is a great time to think about your future career and what education you will need to get there. Here are some things you can do now that will help:

• Think about higher education as an important part of your future. 

• Think about which subjects are your favorite and why.

• Take challenging and interesting classes to prepare for high school.

• Develop strong study habits, and do your best in school and on standardized tests. 

• If you are having difficulty, don’t give up—get help from a teacher, tutor, or mentor.

• Determine how you learn best - by reading, listening, or watching a video.

• Become involved in school- or community-based activities that let you explore your interests and learn new things.

• Explore how skills learned through school relate to different types of career pathways and options.

• Think about what you want to do in high school, learn about classes, courses, and programs that you might consider—including Career and Technical Education classes. 

• Schedule an appointment with me, your school counselor, to help you make a plan.

• Visit colleges nearby or when you are on vacation.

• Explore ways in which you can pay for college tuition like employer programs, grants, scholarships, federal and state funds.

• Discuss your future career thoughts and ideas with your family, teachers, librarians, and friends.

• Ask people who you think have interesting jobs, “What do you like about your job?” and “What education did you need for your job?”

• Read books from actual professionals in a career field.

• Take career assessments to see what jobs match your interests, values, and skills.

• Find Income information about careers that interest you. Do they earn a salary or hourly pay? What’s the range? Do people have this as their only job, or do they need to supplement with a second job to pay all their bills plus save money each month?

• Ask people and watch Interviews to make sure a day in the life of a potential profession is something you’d actually be interested in.

• Shadow a job within your school district, or with a family/friend. Or take part in a Take Your Child to Work day at your parent’s/family member’s employer. 

Adapted from FAME Education, (2021). Finance Authority of Maine. https://www.fame-education.com/middle-school-education-tips/

https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/my-future-my-way.pdf

Download this interesting workbook to help you develop a career path for your future.

MY FUTURE, MY WAY FIRST STEPS TOWARD COLLEGE 

A Workbook for Middle and Junior High School Students 

Federal Student Aid, (2017). My future, my way. First steps toward college. U.S. Department of Education. https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/my-future-my-way.pdf