What Does Life After Graduation Look Like?

By Ross Middleton

Life after graduation is full of unexpected choices and chances to grow. High school students thinking about their future and recent graduates striking out on their own may find themselves seeking out new ways to expand their horizons and explore career opportunities. 

Discovering New Passions

College-bound students seeking a challenge can look forward to a world of new resources. Though students will have a chance to specialize their areas of study as they never have before, a certain amount of exploratory course selection can spark new intellectual passions while satisfying requirements. F. Sheppard Shanley, a Senior Associate Director of Admission at Northwestern University, suggests students look beyond a singular area of interest when researching colleges. “Be sure to look for what else is strong at the places you find,” Shanley advises. “You won’t be doing just one thing in college, and who knows…you might get interested in something else.” A college with extensive course listings or a student-designed path of study can give an aspiring doctor a chance for self-expression in the form of a nonfiction writing elective, or allow an actor in training to fulfill a science requirement by taking a class in animal behavior.

Diversifying Skillsets

Rising seniors and college freshmen can also develop skills for their university experience and beyond through online summer classes or self-guided studies. For example, a future MBA candidate may want to prepare for introductory business classes now by learning basic web development or programming, using newly acquired web know-how to try building a brand online. Coding tutorials are widely available online or through local library resources, and students can also apply to more structured courses in this and other subject areas through CTD’s online programs.

Making Community Connections

Valuable learning occurs outside the classroom as well. Seeking volunteer opportunities can push students to meet new people outside their class, grade, or generation, as well as potentially develop a gift for service or lay the groundwork for a vocation. First-year orientation and college offices of student life provide good starting points for learning about clubs or student projects. New students needn’t stop there. Starting a club can provide a great introduction to campus life, give students new leadership and project management experience, and unite classmates with a common goal.

No amount of planning can prepare for every challenge, but discussing a student’s values and hopes for the future early can lead to a better fit by the time graduation comes. Students participating in CTD and similar programs may want to account for additional needs, or even research nontraditional learning environments while still in high school. Parents of advanced learners can find more information about college selection, the first-year experience, and other topics at sessions in this month’s Opportunities for the Future conference as well.

Whether you’re just finishing high school or launching your career, it’s an exciting time full of big changes and new opportunities – best of luck to the class of 2017! 

Ross Middleton is an independent writer and formerly part of CTD’s Summer Program staff. He received his BA in English Literature from Wesleyan University and an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence.