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The Challenge
Can’t wait to get out of high school? Juniors and seniors …
it won’t be much
longer! Much of your life after high school will be determined by you.
How will
you evaluate your choices for what you will do after graduation? How will
you
invest in yourself? Where will your journey start?
Here are some of your possibilities…
- Attending a four-year college could put you on the fast track to
your dream
career.
- Community college offers an associate’s degree — with
the option to complete
a bachelor’s degree after the two years.
- Starting an apprenticeship or directly entering the workforce allows
you to
earn while you learn, and it may help you decide what kind of training
you
really need to move forward.
- Joining the armed services or volunteering for a service corps can
teach
valuable, hands-on life skills and offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
- And what about that year off? Common in European countries after
high
school, a “gap year” can be an ideal time to travel, do
community service,
or live in a foreign country. As you explore the real world, you will
have the
opportunity to reflect and learn more about yourself.
Here is your challenge: Write a brief essay about your post-graduation
plans that
incorporates economic concepts.* How will you weigh the costs and benefits
of
your options? What is the best road to earn the education and skills you
need?
Does college make the most economic sense? Is there an economic benefit
to
entering the workforce right away?
There is no right or wrong path to choose. Every path can lead you to
more
than one destination, and changes are bound to be made along the way.
But
remember that each choice you make requires sacrifices. Good luck!
*Examples of economic concepts include:
- Financial Goals — Desired results from one’s efforts to
achieve personal
economic satisfaction
- Human Capital — The total of a person's productive knowledge,
experience,
and training; the more you invest in yourself, the more productive you
become and the more you contribute to the economy
- Incentive — A factor that encourages people to do something;
often a
monetary reward or the prospect of obtaining one
- Standard of Living — The overall degree of comfort of an individual,
household, or population, as measured by the amount of goods and
services consumed
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