How do you talk with your student
about his or her plans for life after graduation?
Perhaps you share advice like
this: Study hard. Get good grades. Go to
college. You can do anything you set your mind to.
We all want students to do their
best, so they have better opportunities for bright futures and good jobs. This
school year, I want to encourage you to get more specific. Beyond offering
advice, ask more questions and urge your student to think about his or her
strengths and interests.
Here are some questions to consider:
What do you like to do, in school and out of school? What are some of your
natural strengths? What are some careers in which your interests and strengths
might intersect? How do you think you might best prepare and train for those
careers?
It’s never too early to start these
conversations, either. Even elementary school students can learn from classroom
visitors talking about their jobs or a summertime day camp focused on anything from
computer coding to archaeology.
Today’s students are likely to have
several careers over the course of their lives, and an ever-increasing number
of jobs require education beyond high school. Simply telling them to go to
college isn’t enough. Every student’s path will be unique. Students
should see a university or technical institute education not as an end in
itself, but as a tool for achieving their career goals.
Here are some things we are doing in
our school district to help students more effectively explore and understand the
career opportunities available to them: The use of SDMyLife.com (career exploration, course planning, and post-secondary information), internships, dual credit options, Employability course, Career Planning Day in Aberdeen for Juniors and Seniors every fall, NCRC (National Career Readiness Certificate) exam for Juniors, and even an entrepreneurial festival "Create 'N'".
At a conference this summer, Gov. Dennis Daugaard challenged us...instead of asking students where they are going to school, ask them what they are going to study and why? We
want graduates to leave our district with clear goals in mind and a strong plan
for achieving them. Here's to a great year at the Faulkton Area Schools District!
Go Trojans!
Respectfully,
Derek Barrios
Superintendent/Elementary Principal
