Welcome to Learn More, your guide to the future. Maybe you have an idea of your college and career goals. Maybe you’re still exploring your options. No matter what, Learn More can help you plan your next steps.
In this digital magazine, you’ll learn about:
Your path to success starts now—and that means taking the right steps to prepare yourself for life after high school. Try your hardest every day and ask for help when you need it. Look through this website to start learning about how you can reach your goals.
After you finish this digital magazine, talk to your family and teachers about your goals and check in regularly so they can help you succeed.
Have a great school year!
This website will help you plan for the future. What you enjoy, what your strengths are and what skills you want to develop are all good places to start. It’s okay to not have all the answers for your future, and most people change their minds about what they want to do for a career.
Take your time and think carefully about the following questions before reading through the rest of the website.
Did you know that the average American spends about 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime? That’s more than 10 years! That’s a lot of time, so you want to find a career you enjoy. Start thinking about your personality, hobbies and interests. How can you combine these to find a job?
Do you like to build things, play sports or draw? What’s your favorite class? When you stop and think about what makes you happy, you can think about finding the career that fits you.
FALSE. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average person changes jobs about 12 times during their lifetime! Your first job won’t be your last, and you’ll keep learning new skills throughout your entire career.
FALSE. About 99% of all new jobs created since the Great Recession require education and training beyond high school, but that doesn’t mean you have to get a four-year degree. There are a lot of other options to choose from to set yourself up for success!
TRUE. As you get older, your career will change. Maybe you’ll major in marketing and end up starting a tech company. The good news is, the longer you work the more you’ll learn, so you’ll be ready when you decide to take on new responsibilities.
When little kids think about what they want to be when they grow up, they think in a direct way: if I’m good at math, I should be a banker or accountant!
In the real world, skills are applicable in a range of fields. Electrical engineers have become journalists; police officers have become politicians; music majors have become CEOs. Most people change careers several times in their lives. As you chase your goals, remember that you’ve got skills that can be applied in many ways.
Select an interest/strength and an industry you are interested in to see what careers could be right for you.
As a high school student, you have a lot of options about diploma types and the courses you take. That probably seems pretty cool, but it might seem overwhelming, too. It’s a good idea to meet with your school counselor to create a graduation plan that fits your future plans and interests. Before you meet, it can be helpful to have some background knowledge.
Here are your PRIMARY DIPLOMA options in Indiana:
Experience working for a company in an official way. Internships usually last a set amount of time — like a summer or a semester — and some even pay you.
Following a professional for a day to see what they do. You can make the most of job shadowing by asking questions (like you would during an informational interview) during your visit.
Here are SPECIALTY CLASSES OR PROGRAMS that your school might offer:
College courses taught in high school or at a local college that will get you high school and college credit. Talk to your school counselor about how to sign up and how your credits will transfer. Visit TransferIN.net to learn more.
Consists of a block of 30 college credit hours that can be earned during high school and transferred to any public college in Indiana. Check to see if your high school offers this program. You can earn up to a year of college for no more than $750! Visit TransferIN.net to learn more.
Your education belongs to you. No one can take it away. It’ll earn you more money, too. According to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, students who earn an associate degree will make about $400,000 more in their lifetime than those with a high school diploma. Students who earn a bachelor’s degree will make about $1 million more in their lifetime than students who receive a high school diploma.
to graduate from high school in Indiana, you will need to show you are ready for college or a career to earn your high school diploma. Indiana’s Graduation Pathways are designed to help you meet state requirements while still giving you options to pursue what interests you.
Here’s a look at what the Graduation Pathways requirements are to get you thinking about
what options may be right for you.
Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with classroom learning in hands-on fields, such as electronic systems, carpentry or plumbing. Apprenticeships help launch you into a career in skilled trades while working alongside experts. Plus, you get paid while you learn!
Length: 2–5 years on average
Credential: Industry-recognized credential, such as a Journeyman certification
How to Prepare:
By joining the military, you can pursue a wide range of careers — from communications to health science, manufacturing and information technology. Many military programs will pay for college during or after service.
Length: Varies. There is usually a specific commitment.
Credential: Dependent on the program, opportunity to receive industry-recognized credentials and college credit for military experience.
How to Prepare:
Two-year colleges typically offer workforce certificates and associate degrees. Workforce
certificates can be completed in a year and associate degrees take about two years. By earning a certificate or associate degree, you can qualify for careers in healthcare, sales, automotive and software development. Your associate degree can also count toward a bachelor’s degree.
Length: 1-2+ years
Credential: Associate degree or workforce certificate
How to Prepare:
Four-year colleges are what most people think of when they hear the word “college.” They award bachelor’s degrees and sometimes master’s and doctoral degrees. Many four-year colleges take students’ extracurricular and service activities into consideration in their admissions processes. The higher your degree, the greater chance you have of qualifying for more jobs, and the more money you are likely to earn in your career.
Length: 4+ years
Credential: Bachelor’s degree
How to Prepare:
High school students usually prefer having their own lives and spending time with friends. Those tendencies are perfect for preparing for college, where you will see your professor only a few times a week and your parents even less frequently.
In this increasingly independent life, focused study skills can pave the way to a great future.
Self-care means doing things that are in your control to keep yourself mentally, emotionally and physically healthy. It ranges from things like brushing your teeth to practicing mediation.
Everyday hygiene: Taking a shower, brushing your teeth and hair and washing your face are basic elements of good hygiene you should practice every day.
Get your rest: Kids your age typically need about 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Try to go to bed around the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning. Avoid sleeping in front of a screen. The blue light that comes from electronic screens leads to bad sleep.
Eat well and often: A well-rounded diet is essential for good physical and mental health. Try to eat foods that aren’t processed. Instead of soda and chips, try water or milk and fruit. Instead of eating one or two big meals a day, have moderately sized meals with healthy snacks throughout the day. Be sure to drink LOTS of water!
Live long and prosper: Avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Besides being illegal, these substances reduce life expectancy, cause diseases and several cancers, and are often responsible for fatal accidents involving teens. Not to mention they ruin your skin!
Move it: No matter what kind of shape you are in, physical activity clears your mind and strengthens your body. Try to get 30-60 minutes of activity a day, from an easy walk to yoga to a competitive athletic practice.
Good vibes only: Try to surround yourself with people who support you. Negative stress is a part of life, but when you can, try to keep your distance from negative people.
Keep it clean: Try to keep your immediate surroundings clean and organized. An organized space can help you feel calm and focused.
Are you working toward a 21st Century Scholarship? Over the past 30 years, the 21st Century Scholarship has helped over 40,000 Hoosier students earn a college degree!
Read more about a couple of talented 21st Century Scholars alumni…
JESSICA CASAS went to John Adams High School where she graduated in 2015. After she graduated high school, she attended Holy Cross College where she studied business. Now she works at La Casa de Amistad, a nonprofit that serves as a youth and community center in South Bend, Indiana.
Jessica shared that:
VINCENT ROBERT EDWARDS graduated from Waldron Junior-Senior High School in 2012. Then, he attended Purdue Polytechnic Institute in Columbus, Indiana where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Technology (CIT). Now, he’s attending Indiana University – Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) and working toward his Master’s in Business Administration, while working as an engineer at Cummins, Inc.
Vincent shared that:
Goal setting is an important part of staying focused on the future, but setting a goal is just one step. Once you have your main goal in place, it is very important that you understand the steps it will take to achieve that goal and know how you will overcome any obstacles along the way. Sometimes your goals change. That is when “Plan B” comes into play. By having clear goals and also preparing for change, you will be better prepared for your future.
Have you ever looked at the price listed on a college’s website? If so, you may have been shocked or scared by what you saw. The good news is Indiana has one of the most generous financial aid systems in the country. So how do you know what you can expect to pay?
First, consider all the different kinds of costs that go into a list price. There’s tuition and fees (or the cost of classes), but also expenses related to books, supplies, room and board (or housing and meals) and other needs. Some of these expenses may not apply to you, like if you choose to live at home rather than on campus or in an apartment. When you budget for college this way, you’re less likely to be surprised by the costs.
Second, arm yourself with information by estimating your costs. The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard allows you to find out information about the costs of the colleges you’re interested in. Go to CollegeScoreCard.Ed.gov to get started. You can search for a specific school or all schools in Indiana. Once you click on a college, you can see how much a student with your income pays, on average, by viewing the “costs” dropdown menu.
Finally, don’t rule out a college just because of its list price. You never know what kind of financial aid you’ll qualify for. You’ll find out that information your senior year after you file your FAFSA.
