Life is full of milestones. Milestones vary from person to person, but one is quite common to everyone and that is graduating from high school. Certainly, not everyone graduates and some graduate later than others, but the majority that do experience the sense of accomplishment and the benefits of having a high school diploma. As is often the case one decision (graduating from high school in this case) sets the stage for other choices. The question of what to do after graduation is one of those next steps/decisions that can have a major impact on one’s life now and in the future. Ironically, the accomplishment of graduating actually makes the choice of what to do next more difficult or at least more time consuming because being a high school graduate actually opens up many more alternatives than you have if you choose to drop out.

Application Insights-What Should I Do After High School Graduation? will help open up the list of options high school graduates have. It is imperative that all alternatives are identified and reviewed in regards to their expected benefits and expected costs to each individual. As planning for the future requires a thorough understanding of one’s values and their life’s goals now and in the future, time needs to be spent reviewing and updating each of the planning and decision making areas. The best place to start this process is to use the decision making guide, review what has already been accomplished, and integrate the additional insights provided. Remember that decision making is a personal activity and it is all about you. View new insights as suggestions and reminders of things you may have missed that may or may not be valuable to you.

• Answering the question of where do I go from here, when here is high school graduation is complex and maybe even scary. After all, graduation from high school means a major loss of structure (people telling you what to do) and for many it means a new legal status as well. You can now be held accountable for many of your actions legally! Adherence to contracts, tried as an adult for certain offenses, joining the military, making health choices to name a few. Consequently, answering the what next question is done among many alternatives and whatever are the actual benefits and/or cost you have nobody to blame but yourself.
   
• As a new “adult” it is time to re-clarify your values and life’s goals. What was very important to you when you were a “kid” may not be that important to you now.  Being a sports hero may now take second place to earning enough money to pay for your living expenses or fulfilling your legal car loan contract. Be sure to review what you personally value and how your longer term dreams have changed.  Couple this thinking with the “adult context” of your life.
   
• Being an adult gives you many more ways to organize your life. It empowers you to set goals, plan, and implement actions without asking for permission. Certainly, society imposes acceptable parameters on your life’s decisions, but for the most part the skies the limit. Consequently, be thoughtful and complete as you identify all of the possible alternative decisions you can make now that you are free of the 7:30 am to 3:30 pm high school schedule. As you add to your list, it will be helpful to seek input from experts and use your research skills to get a more complete picture of what alternative is all about. Here are some possible additions to your list:
  • Join one of the military branches
  • Participate in a volunteer group such as peace corps or a church quest, or a political party
  • Get a full time job, hopefully with benefits
  • Go to a four year college and earn a college degree in a chosen field of study
  • Go to a two year school and seek an associate’s degree or trade certificate    
  • Become a trade apprentice
  • Get a part time job and blend this with other options
  • Start a business of your own
  • Continue to live at home
   
• Evaluate all of the possible alternatives by weighing the expected benefits with the expected costs of each alternative as compared to all others. You want to choose the option that is best for you at this moment in time. That means that no other options will give you greater value/satisfaction than the one selected. Remember that decisions must be re-evaluated from time to time so the best choice today may not be the best one later on. Be prepared to change your mind if circumstances dictate. Going to a four year college may become less important to you if a great job-not requiring a college degree becomes available or living in a state far from home may not be acceptable if family health becomes an issue. Be prepared to change your mind, but don’t let laziness or lack of commitment be the driving force.
   
• This question will be answered best if you seek input from others. Experts, peers, family, and friends have experiences and insights that might be very helpful. Use them! A good example of seeking input from others would be finding someone you trust who has joined the military. Certainly military life is unique and real life insight will be most helpful.
   
• What will it be. Today is the first day of the rest of your life…make the most of it! Don’t forget to rethink your decision often. It is particularly helpful to rethink when something major changes in your life-like marital status, income levels, family matters, to name a few.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

1) After High School, What Next?
2) What Should You Do After High School?
3) Back To College: Ask The Experts Forum and Options.
4) Veterans Plus
5) Military Financial Literacy
6) Financial Literacy for Military Families
7) Military Hub