DIFFERENT POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS

BY ABBEY MONDI Editor

The thought of possible future career choices can be daunting for any student. After high school, students are left with many options in terms of where life may lead them. Some will go to college to take courses that will hopefully one day result in a degree. But there are different options besides college that include going straight into the workforce, attending a trade school or joining the military. Some students may even feel that they need to take a break from everything by choosing to use a gap year. Regardless of which route a student takes, they can find a successful and fulfilling career.

A gap year can be used for a multitude of reasons. Some students may need to take a year or two off from school and work to decide what they would like to do in the future. Many students use gap years to find themselves and discover their passions.

“A gap year can be used for travel or self-exploration. It means you’re at home with the financial support of a parent and you’re actively using that time to figure out what’s next,” high school guidance counselor Kate Ozarka said.

After high school, many seniors may choose to further their education by attending a community college or a four-year university. Both options can leave students with beneficial training for their eventual careers. 2019 Kaneland graduate Kristin Layne went to Illinois State University (ISU) in hopes of becoming an elementary school teacher.

“The ISU education program allows college kids to learn a lot about teaching in a variety of settings. By being in different classrooms [and seeing] what happens day to day in literacy and math programs, it allows for a good experience to see what it’s like to be a teacher,” Layne said.

In the Kaneland High School cafeteria, the College and Career Readiness Center is open to any students who need assistance planning their futures. Ozarka, who spends much of her time in the Col- lege and Career Readiness Center, is ready to help students with a variety of important decisions pertaining to what comes after high school.

“I help [students] plan for post-secondary options like jumping into a career, [joining] the military, taking a gap year, going into the trades or college,” Ozarka said.

The military is an option that allows students to go through training and begin to work right away. The military has a variety of fields and positions that anyone who joins can pursue. In the military, there are six different branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard. Joining the military allows students to learn valuable skills and continue with a career that can sustain them their whole lives. Senior Charles Burtell is in the Army National Guard and started training this past summer.

“If you join the military during your junior year, it’s called the [Split Training Option], so this summer I wasn’t here. I was in basic training. Next summer, I leave for Advanced Individual Training (AIT). You pick a job when you join where you have to complete basic training, and then you go to your job training,” Burtell said.

Many students who want to continue their education can do so through various military programs. The students complete training while continuing with their education. This allows many students to get college experience while making money and working towards their goals. Joining the military can become a lasting career or something students just do while still in school.

“If you enjoy being in the military, you can go full duty so you can be in the military working every day, and it would be your full-time job,” Burtell said.

The military can pay for a student’s college and all their necessities, like housing and transportation. Being enlisted in the military also allows someone to earn money on top of what is provided for basic needs.

For some students, attending college or joining the military might not be preferable options. Instead, they may want to join the workforce after high school. Many students have the ambition to work straight out of high school, and one way they can do this is through the trades. Senior Timothy Luehring plans on pursuing a career as a pipefitter.

“I grew up in a workforce family, so I know that I can provide for myself, and [pipefitting] is something I am good at. I am following in the footsteps of my family,” Luehring said.

When a person decides to go into the trades, they will typically first apply to a union. The union will then set them up with an apprenticeship where they will learn more valuable skills to help with their future career.

“With a career in the right field, sometimes you will be required to go to college or get a certificate to get training. This is called a baseline; you start from the bottom and work your way up in your career [field],” Ozarka said.

Career Paths

67%

8% Plan on working a full-time job

13% Are undecided

12% Will pursue other post-secondary plans