This is a question that is constant in high school and that becomes more prominent and impossible to avoid as you approach your junior and senior years. Not having an answer to this question is okay and actually quite common. You may feel overwhelmed because everyone seems to be asking you this – your peers, your family, your counselor, your teachers. Pretty much everyone. One way to feel more at ease when thinking about this is to do some research on yourself. Get to know yourself better, and a good place to start is by taking inventory tests. Inventory tests take a deep dive into your morals, values, personality traits, skills, and what type of work environments will help you succeed.
Another way to get to know yourself (and that pairs well with the inventory test) is to practice visioning exercises. Envision the life you want to live. If you can't envision goals as adults, envision where you want to be in the next five years. Close your eyes…where are you waking up? What type of environment do you live in (city, beach, forest, small town, farm, etc.)? What kind of house do you live in? Are you renting? Are you buying? What do you do for a living? Are you working from home? From an office? ? Do you own your own business? Do you work with a team? What type of car do you drive? What do you love to do? What skills do you have? What skills do you have yet to learn? What kind of friends do you have? What values? Is faith important to you? What extracurricular activities do you engage in? Open your eyes…take a deep breath. Take a piece of paper and write it all down. Then, make a plan on how are you going to create the life and lifestyle you want live. To have a successful plan you must have goals. Write down your goals in SMART format and focus on two to three goals to avoid becoming overwhelmed by your own goals.
Now that you’ve had some clarity about yourself and your goals, research your options. Which path, will help you succeed and reach your goals? Will you go to college? Will you pursue a trade school? Perhaps it is best to save money and start at a community college. Maybe you’re considering the military or working right off the bat? Perhaps, you will be joining many other creators and creating content online. Equally important is to consider what skills you possess and/or want to learn and how you can use your skills to earn money. For instance, do you like photography, creating videos, or making coffee drinks? I you can get hired for weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, or any other events. Whatever you decide to do, work hard and your reward will come.
