It’s almost 2023. It’s hard to believe that you will be half way through high school very soon. While it is more fun to think about having fun and being with friends, some time can be spent on figuring out your future, too.

I know graduation seems a long time away, but time moves quickly. What is most important is that you figure out what YOU like to do. What kinds of career opportunities there are that appeal to the kinds of things that you like to do, that make you happy. Do you like to work with people? Do you like to work with your hands? Do you like to work alone? Do you like to make things?

Those are just a few of the things you can think about. There are a number of tips in this newsletter that can help you discover a direction. The good news is that you have time. It is, however, important to spend time investing in your future and exploring you. It is a wise investment.

Turning the calendar to another year is always a good time for reflection. You’re never too young to think about your future. I like a new calendar. It represents a whole year of new experiences and opportunities to learn. A new year is a fresh start. A new year can put a bad year behind us and generate positive thoughts for new beginnings.

How you celebrate this holiday season is personally yours. But be sure to pay attention to YOU. Your thinking. Your aspirations. Your dreams are important. Figuring out how to realize them is the challenge. And you have time to do that. You are your best investment. Always remember that.

Wishing you a warm and memorable holiday season and a new year filled with fulfillment of your dreams, friends, and fun.

Patricia G Egan, MBA, CFRE

Executive Director at LEAF

Sophomore year is a time to investigate career options and the postsecondary education or training required to be successful in your career of choice. If undecided on a path, check out online self-assessment tools that match your interests, skills, and values to career choices. Explore career clusters and research job requirements, work conditions, pay, educational/training requirements, and job growth for specific occupations within the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Talk to people who work in the occupation you are considering and ask if you can job shadow for a day to get a first-hand look at the realities of the job.

Having a solid understanding of your career goals will help guide your postsecondary decisions.

Postsecondary Pathways to consider include:

Bachelor's degrees are offered at public and private four-year colleges and universities. These schools vary in size, academic difficulty, affordability, and admission requirements. A bachelor's degree can typically be used to pursue a variety of different careers because they require both general and program-specific coursework. Students may opt to pursue more than one major. They may opt to pursue a minor to complement their major or explore an outside interest.

An associate degree is typically earned at a two-year college or a branch campus. These schools usually offer open enrollment with admission requirements including an application and a high school diploma or GED. Some associate degrees provide a pathway directly into the workforce, focusing on the skills needed for specific careers, while others serve as a cost-effective stepping stone to earning a bachelor's degree.

Certificate programs are affordable, short-term education options that provide students with the skills needed to work in specialized, high-demand occupations. Certificate training is offered at career technical education (CTE) centers and community colleges. Students can earn certifications in high school or after graduation through adult learning programs. Programs are offered in health sciences, advanced manufacturing, skilled trades, public safety, business administration, culinary arts, and more.

Apprenticeships are typically a three-to-five-year commitment allowing students to earn an income while training for an in-demand occupation with a sponsor organization. Apprentices learn their trade through on-the-job training and classroom instruction as they earn industry credentials. Entry requirements are typically an application and high school diploma or GED. Apprenticeships are offered in a variety of career fields, including advanced manufacturing and the skilled trades.

Innovation and rapidly-changing technology have transformed today's manufacturing companies into fast-paced, high-tech environments where skilled workers are in high demand. Many companies offer extensive training programs and tuition reimbursement for their employees. Visit thinkmfg.com for more information about manufacturing opportunities in the Greater Cleveland area.

The military offers a wide range of career paths within its five branches with options to serve full-time or part-time in the reserves. Students may enlist after high school graduation, but becoming an officer typically requires a four-year degree or higher. The military has many programs to help its members fund a college education. Visit todaysmilitary.com and connect with a local recruiter to learn more about the military's many career pathways.

Sophomore year is a time to investigate academic options including College Credit Plus (CCP), Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Depending upon the student's anticipated career path, these options can provide a fast-track to career/college readiness. Students should pay close attention to their school announcements for informational sessions on these educational opportunities:

College Credit Plus (CCP) students are high school students who take college courses at college campuses free of charge, fulfilling high school requirements while potentially earning college credit. Students must meet certain GPA requirements and may have to take a placement test to participate in CCP classes. Some high schools offer select CCP classes on their high school campus. 

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level classes that students take at their high schools. In order to earn college credit, you must take an AP exam - for a fee - at the end of the course and score at a certain level. Check with your high school to see which AP courses are offered. Each college (and sometimes each college department) determines the AP test score that is required in order to receive college credit.

Career Technical Education (CTE), or Vocational Education, varies by high school. Many CTE programs are taught off-site at locations such as Auburn Career Center, Excel TECC Consortium, Northern Career Institute, and Lake Shore Compact. Depending upon the program, some students may gain college credit, a professional skills certification, or possibly a post-graduation job offer through their participation.

Follow this checklist throughout sophomore year to stay on track with your postsecondary planning:

Scholarships opportunities for sophomores can typically be found online on scholarship search websites like scholarships.com, scholarships360.org, bold.org, cappex.com, and unigo.com, just to name a few. Here are a few opportunities for high school sophomores:

Big Future Scholarships are open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Students can become eligible to win one of two $40,000 scholarships or hundreds of $500 scholarships each month, simply by completing career- and college-readiness activities on the Big Future website. Click here to learn more.

The Maltz Museum Stop the Hate Essay Contest is now in its 15th year, providing students with an opportunity to share their commitment to a more accepting and inclusive society. This essay contest is open to 6-12 grade students and asks participants to share how they shine their light as an agent of positive change in their community.

The top scoring tenth grade student will receive a scholarship award of $400. The application deadline for sophomores is February 16, 2023. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply.

High school graduation may seem far away. But taking proactive steps in planning your career pathway as a sophomore will help pave your road to success.

Don't forget that LEAF is a free resource at your high school to assist with career exploration and college/career technical program search, and to answer all of your postsecondary education funding questions.

Get connected with your LEAF advisor today!



Thank you to Western Reserve Junior Service League for making this publication possible and to all of our LEAF E-Newsletter sponsors: