High School
How many credits do I need to graduate from high school?
Under Alabama DOE standards, you will need 16.https://www.alabamaachieves.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AHSG-Requirements-May-2018.pdf
How can I gain extra credit for high school graduation?
You can apply for AP classes, join a student club, try and secure an intern position.
Can I take a class at a local college?
Yes. You can talk to a counselor at school to learn what you need to do.
When should II start submitting applications to colleges?
If you have an idea of what college(s) you want to attend, it's never too early. It wouldn't be a bad idea to start researching application requirements in the 9th grade. Starting early helps you prepare for your future and career path. You'll learn what requirements and expectations they have for enrollees/students and that helps you know what highschool electives to take, what GPA you must maintain, their values for student body and much more. It will give you an advantage early on.
Can I have a dual major in high school?
It would be a benefit. Anytime you can diversify your education, you win! It makes you more marketable as you will increase your toolkit.
What is the importance of a good GPA?
It is a important factor in being accepted into college. To understand more about GPAs learn more at https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/gpa-college-admissions
Toolkit
What is a toolkit?
There are different types of toolkits. Here are 2 examples that provides context for how Prepsteps views it in terms of benefits. One is for learning and the other is to equip you for career pathing.
- Provides leaders with a multi-step decision-making process, practical tools, and numerous examples for setting a trajectory of positive change, moving assertively toward achievement of student learning and improvement goals. This definition was taken from https://tech.ed.gov/futureready/professional-learning/about/
- Career readiness assembly of your assets and agility. Check out this app, that delivers daily toolkit tips https://www.thecareertoolkitbook.com/app
College
What GPA do colleges accept?
The average GPA accepted to get into most colleges is 3.o. Don't be discouraged, as you may gain acceptance with a lower GPA at other colleges. Read for more information. https://www.collegeadvisor.com/resources/average-gpa-for-college/
How do I apply for Federally student loans?
Go to the Student Aid website and review the types of loans a student may be eligible for.
How do I write an effective essay for my application package?
Approach it as a storyteller would. You want to engage the reader and give them a personal glimpse of who you are. Make your story compelling. Maybe you had an experience that had a life changing outcome. Connect it to a real experience.
How do I narrow down what major I should choose?
Have a true self reflection of yourself. What are you passionate about, such as a cause. Do you like helping people, then you should choose a field that matches that. It could be any field, but try to pinpoint what that looks like in your life.
Soft Skills & Life Skills
Why is it important to be agile?
Let's define agility. The Oxford provides these definitions:
- ability to move quickly and easily.
- ability to think and understand quickly.
Agility is power. It denotes that you have the mind and skillsets to be ready to meet the challenge. You are flexible, can integrate a series of implementations to resolve a problem or create solutions.
To test your agility, please check out this site and take an assessmenthttps://agilities.org/tools-resources/agile-work-profiler/
What are the top 21st Century skills employers look for? (Hard and Soft)
when you apply for a job or position, the hiring person(s) will be examining whether you are a good fit and base it on your presentation and skillsets. The outlook for 21st century job currency (skills) that will be seen as most competitive.
Here is a list of the top 13 skills that was published on top skills employers look for.
- Continuous learning - are you curious and always trying to improve and invest in yourself?
- Time Management - are you organized and conscious of time being valuable (not wasting) and streamlining (i.e. shortening a process)?
- Decision Making - how are your critical thinking skills? How do you problem solve?
- Collaboration - are you a team player? How do you resolve conflict? Are you willing to compromise/come to a consensus? Do you contribute to the team?
- Emotional Intelligence - are you able to control your emotions? Are you empathetic (put yourself in someone else's shoes)? What kind of leader would you be? Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) can also be associated with Emotional Intelligence. Check this youtube video out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIoA5mKSFHs
- Creativity & Resilient - can you think outside the box? Are you naturally gifted with the ability to solve a problem or create something? Maybe you are an artist or have ideate an app or ways to help a particular group? Are you persistent and giving up in not an option? Are you seen as strong or passionate about a cause?
- Adaptability - Are you flexible? Can you adjust your perspective when it isn't how you naturally operate? Do you feel comfortable enough to try new things?
- Change Management - Are you flexible or rigid in your thinking? Can you be persuaded to see a new process or way of doing something as something 'dumb' or bad versus an improvement? Are you able to accept a change? Have you thought of something that causes a change for the better?
- Coaching Mindset - Do you mentor anyone or been a mentee? Do you like sharing advice or help others learn (i.e. from your experience and/or mistake)?
- Project Management - Do you have natural leadership skills? Are you 'bossy'? Do you have great organizational skills? Are you an expert in an area that would cause others to look to you for answers?
- Technology - are you tech savvy? How do you manage your medium or use it? Are you taking any STEAM driven classes?
- Knowledge of new social & digital media - most of you have social media and are digital experts. How many platforms do you engage in? Which platforms are more user friendly? What improvements have you had ideas about?
- AI (Aritificial Intelligence) - you may or may not consider yourself techie or care much about the tech field, but our world will continue to go digital and be influenced by technology. AI will continue to grow and be developed. There is much to discuss on this topic. For now, just know that it has been inserted into our lives and continue to develop. One area of study that has an opportunity and attention will be needed is the ethical side of AI. Standards will need to be established and set for design and control.
Comments and questions have been added to the topics as food for thought and context. Please refer to the attached Youtube video which will provide more understanding about best skills to have. All of these skills may not be necessary for your aspirations and finding a job, but will have an impact on a possible job opportunity. For more on skills, see the FAQ on Resumes.
Social and Emotional Skills
Social and Emotional Learning involves the following components:
- Self Awareness
- Social Awareness
- Self Management
- Responsible Decision Making
- Relationship Skills
What is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional Intelligence is a close model of Social and Emotional. There are 4 components in this model. Check out this TedTalk video on this topic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vZmOF11P9A
The following E.I. model was presented by Daniel Goleman, the author of 'Emotional Intelligence - Why It Can Matter More Than IQ'. It was one of the first books to provided research, insights and implications of emotional intelligence. The content infers that Emotional Intelligence may matter more than having a high IQ.
Question.....have you ever encountered someone that very intelligent (business owner, Ph.D, or anyone perceived as intelligent) but seems unfeeling, hollow, angry person and you may wonder why they are not personable or caring? By contrast, have you encountered a 'regular' person (friend, teacher, employer, or the cashier at a store) and they displayed warmth, care, a smile or concern or inspired you? What about a person that has the academic intelligence and emotional intelligence, how amazing is that person?
Hard Skills
What are Hard Skills?
Hard skills in contrast to soft skills is the difference between your competencies and personality. One example to compare and contrast the ability to solve a math problem or typing 65 words per minute versus you being able to empathize with someone or get along with others well.
Check out an article Indeed published about the two types to see how employers evaluate candidates https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills
What is Critical Thinking?
Simply put, it is interpretation of information or input and response to it and how you problem-solve (output) and make decisions based on those inputs.
Linked is a site that demonstrates how to evaluate and learn the methodology of critical thinking. Go to Critical Thinking Definition and Examples
How do I become an effective communicator?
Practice makes perfect! There are diverse forms of communication. Oral, written and body language are forms of communication and each conveys manners of how you engage in interactions.
Telling Your Story
How do I tell my story for impact?
Your story is unique and your own. It matters and communicates to others who you are, your values, insight, resilience, what you think about yourself and others, and so on.
It is important to tell your story effectively in professional and personal environments. Please check out this Ted talk where Charles Hunt presents his story and resilience.
Go to Resilience
What is a Persona?
Although a Persona (fictional person), a 'user' is is a profile of archetype, it is used to create a template for the purpose of targeting a specific audience to drive sales of a product or service. Marketers use personnas to develop campaigns to target specific audiences. Those logos and products that are instantly have brand recognition and denotes quality or value are developed based on personas
For example, Michael Jordan. He projects a certain representation, that makes him the basketball icon that he is and when you buy Nike's Michael Jordan shoes, you have a certain audience in mind. Nike will design and promote the product to young, urban, athletic, etc.
As it concerns you and the relevance in terms of developint your profile, you are a brand! Not for the purpose of helping marketers target you to sell to. It is a way to understand and know that we carry certain characteristics, traits, qualities, etc., that make up our persona. Marketers use personnas to develop campaigns to target specific audiences. Those logos and products that are instantly have brand recognition and denotes quality or value are developed based on personas. It boils down to you are your brand.
You may asked, what does that have to do with me? Employers have the same mindset as a marketer. They are looking for a certain type to be that 'best fit' for their organization. You project your personal brand when you go on an interview. That perfect job may have some dependency on how that interviewer sees you. What silent messages are being communicated? Are you friendly, do you seem knowledgeable, how do you stand out from the others are some ways we are perceived. You want to be intentional and confident in yourself.
Here are two resources to help delve into personas and assessing traits of your personalities, which promotes self-awareness:
Persona: (Nike Example) https://www.christinewalthall.com/nike
Personality Assessment: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
What is Personal Branding?
Personal brand is your packaging and how you represent. It asks and speaks to the questions such as who are you, what skills do you bring, what are your core strengths, etc. Potential employers evaluate you as a brand.
The 5 Personal Branding Aspects: https://medium.com/the-ascent/the-5-ps-of-personal-branding-c4f413c5dd8d
- Personal - (About You in terms of your reputation)
- Pointed - -(What you stand for, your values)
- Purposeful - (Journey, strategy, etc.)
- Prioritized - (Managing importance of efforts)
- Profitability - (Value-add, ROI (return on investment))
Please refer to the branding questionnaire in the this link https://www.rollins.edu/career-life-planning/documents/personal-branding-worksheet.pdf
What is the benefit of an Elevator Speech?
An elevator speech is another widget for your toolkit. Your elevator speech is a very short (less than 1 minute, typically 30 seconds) story about you. It should include highlights compelling, flow and sum up. Many high school students will not have extended experience or even work. However, you still have a story.
Here are the 5 elements to your elevator speech:
- Who are you - Name and status (student with a major in ......)
- Experience - Focus on a statement or 2 about what you have accomplish or doing toward your studies
- Goals - Let them know what you plan on doing after high school (internship, college, certificate programs, or travel and teach)
- Why - What drives you or makes you stand out?
- How - What are your next steps as how you are strategizing to get to your why?
Check out this site to view some examples of elevator speeches https://www.storydoc.com/blog/elevator-pitch-for-students
Assessments
Personality Tests for Self-Discovery
Individuals have complex personality traits. Often, we don't self-reflect or identify our qualities, talents or abilities and therefore we cannot spotlight our strengths.
There are 16 personality types. The assessment presents a combination of questions, calculates the results and reveals qualities, traits and characteristics of your makeup. These findings help to give understanding on what types of careers might best fit. https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
Career Assessment
The Princeton Review website provides a career assessment as well as college research information based on types of careers. https://www.princetonreview.com/quiz/career-quiz