what to do after high school essay

What To Do After High School: The 2024 Guide

Leaving the education bubble can feel like being spit out into a world of endless choices and uncertainty. There is no single answer for the question of what to do after high school. But sometimes, having a plan is enough to set the gears in motion.

Below we have conjured up 14 clear plans of action for those wondering what to do after high school. This isn’t a list of commandments. Rather, it’s meant to act as an inspirational springboard as you take a leap into the next chapter of your life.

You can use the clickable menu here to jump straight to individual sections:

Travel abroad

Continue your education online, start a business, follow your passion, go to college, attend a trade school, learn a language.

Study abroad
Join the military

Write a novel

What to do after high school: 14 options.

Embarking on a journey abroad after high school can be a transformative experience. Traveling exposes you to new cultures, broadens your perspective, and enhances your adaptability.

Whether you choose to backpack, teach English, or volunteer, the lessons learned from navigating unfamiliar territories and interacting with diverse communities can provide invaluable life skills. Traveling also fosters independence, self-reliance, and the ability to navigate unknown situations—a perfect way to discover more about yourself and the world.

Working on a tight budget? Traveling with Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms ( WWOOF ) could be the answer. WWOOF a worldwide movement to link volunteers with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build global consciousness of ecological farming and sustainability practices.

Whether you’re looking to earn a full degree or acquire specific skills through online courses, virtual learning platforms provide flexibility and convenience.

Online certification programs are recognized by many employers, especially those in technology fields, where college degrees are less and less relevant. The ability to study at your own pace allows you to balance education with other commitments, such as work or personal projects. This option is particularly suitable for those who prefer a self-directed learning approach.

Many programs and bootcamp offer a job guarantee or placement support.

Here at CareerFoundry, we offer highly-regarded programs in tech fields like UX, web development, product design, and digital marketing.

Get a taste of these programs by signing up for one of our free short courses.

Volunteering is a powerful way to make a positive impact on the world while gaining valuable experiences. Whether you choose to work with local community organizations, contribute to international humanitarian efforts, or assist in environmental conservation projects, volunteering allows you to connect with like-minded individuals and create lasting relationships.

Hands-on experience not only adds depth to your resumé, but also helps you develop a sense of social responsibility. Volunteering can clarify your interests and passions, helping you make more informed decisions about your future endeavors, be it further education or entering the workforce.

Here’s a list of the 11 best gap year volunteering programs in the US. The Peace Corps website is also worth checking out.

For those with an entrepreneurial spirit, starting a business straight out of high school can be a rewarding option. This path requires creativity, dedication, and a willingness to take risks.

Whether it’s launching an online venture, a local service, or a unique product, entrepreneurship offers a chance to learn practical skills, including financial management, marketing, and problem-solving. The experience gained from managing a business can provide insights into leadership, teamwork, and the complexities of the professional world.

Check out this list of 70 great small business ideas for inspiration.

Whether your passion lies in the arts, sciences, sports, or any other field, dedicating time and effort to what you love can open doors to unexpected opportunities.

This might involve enrolling in specialized courses, joining relevant communities, or even turning your passion into a career. While it may take time to find your path, the journey of following your passion often leads to personal growth and a sense of purpose.

Need to work out what your passion is, before you can chase it? This article may help.

Attending college provides an opportunity to delve deeper into academic subjects, meet diverse people that become your professional network, and engage in a variety of extracurricular activities. College can also serve as a stepping stone to specialized careers that require higher education.

College isn’t the only path to success, but for many, it can offer a structured environment to cultivate knowledge, passion, and skills for future professional endeavors.

College is of course not without expense. This piece breaks down the different options for attending college for free .

Financial responsibility is a crucial life skill, and taking a year or two to work and save money can set you on a solid foundation for the future. Whether you choose to work full-time, freelance, or start a side hustle, practicing discipline in managing your finances and building savings is invaluable.

This financial cushion can offer you greater flexibility in making decisions about your future, whether it’s investing in further education, starting a business, or traveling. Learning to budget, save, and invest early on can pave the way for long-term financial security.

Here are Bank of America’s top tips on saving cash .

Trade schools offer specialized training in practical skills, like those to become an electrician, plumber, mechanic, or chef. They make an excellent option for those who prefer hands-on learning and provide targeted education that can lead to well-paying and in-demand jobs.

The shorter duration of these programs compared to traditional college degrees means you can enter the workforce sooner and with less debt. Trade school graduates often find themselves in professions that are essential and fulfilling, contributing directly to their communities.

Here is a helpful list of the top trade schools in America .

Learning a new language opens doors to diverse cultures and expands your communication skills. You can choose to learn independently through language apps, join language exchange and immersion programs, or take formal courses.

Bilingualism or multilingualism is often an attractive quality for employers, and it can enhance your adaptability, cultural awareness, and cognitive abilities. Investing time in language acquisition can be a fulfilling and practical way to stand out in various career fields.

Duolingo offers fun, free language learning services.

Investing time in physical fitness not only contributes to a healthier lifestyle, but can also have positive effects on your mental well-being. After high school, consider joining a gym, taking up a sport, or engaging in outdoor activities.

Regular exercise not only improves your physical health but also enhances your focus, discipline, and stress management skills. Developing a consistent fitness routine early on sets a positive tone for lifelong well-being, providing you with the energy and resilience needed to face the challenges of adulthood.

Check out this free guide on how to build the right exercise plan .

Study or work abroad in an exchange program

Working or studying abroad is an immersive way to combine education with cultural experiences. Many universities offer exchange programs or entire degree courses in foreign countries. This opportunity allows you to gain an international perspective on your chosen field of study, experience different teaching methods, and make global connections.

Living in a different culture also fosters personal growth, adaptability, and a broader understanding of the world.

Check out the U.S. State department’s hub for info about exchange programs.

Join the military

For those seeking structure, discipline, and a sense of duty, joining the military can be a fulfilling option. Military service offers training, education, and diverse career paths.

The military provides financial support for education, enabling you to pursue further studies after your service. While it’s a commitment that requires serious consideration, military service can be a stepping stone to various rewarding careers and an opportunity to serve your country.

If this floats your boat, click to read a quick guide to enlisting in the US military .

If you have a passion for storytelling and creativity, taking the time to write a novel can be a fulfilling and introspective journey.

Writing a novel allows you to express your thoughts, explore your imagination, and potentially contribute a unique perspective to the literary world. It’s an endeavor that not only showcases your storytelling abilities but also teaches you valuable lessons about discipline, patience, and the art of revision.

Struggling to put pen to paper? NaNoWriMo is an amazing nonprofit that helps people write their first novel.

When all else fails, entering the workforce right after high school is a practical option for those eager to gain real-world experience and financial independence. Securing a job allows you to develop essential professional skills, understand workplace dynamics, and start building a professional network.

Whether it’s an entry-level position in your chosen field or a job that allows you to explore various industries, early work experience provides insights into your strengths, interests, and areas for improvement. This hands-on approach to learning can help you make more informed decisions about your long-term career goals.

Job search sites like Indeed are an invaluable tool for this – sometimes lifelong – task.

Closing thoughts

We hope this article has provided some food for thought, for those pondering the eternal quandary of what to do after high school.

Be it education, employment, or an introspective journey of discovery, there is no definitively correct answer to this question.

Openness, enthusiasm and a willingness to collaborate and learn will get you an awful long way in many walks of life. We wish you the very best on your next steps.

Want to explore more career options in tech, specifically?

Take our quiz to find your career in tech.
Read our guide to how to get into tech.
Explore entry-level tech jobs.

Home — Essay Samples — Education — Graduation — Life After High School: Setting Goals and Exploring Career Options

Life after High School: Setting Goals and Exploring Career Options

Categories: Graduation High School

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Published: Sep 7, 2023

Words: 701 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

The importance of setting life goals, the significance of career exploration.

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What To Do After High School: A Comprehensive Guide

If you’ve recently graduated high school, or you’re about to, congratulations! Completing more than a decade of schooling is no joke. It’s an exciting time in your life. You have more freedom now than ever before… and we know it can feel a little scary, especially if you haven’t quite figured out what to do next. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you navigate life after high school. Keep reading for an in-depth breakdown of the ways you can set yourself up for success and accelerate your self-discovery process.

Life After High School: Choose Your Own Adventure

Option One: College

If you’re like most people, you’ve heard all the arguments for going to college: variations of “you’ll earn more money” and “you’re unlikely to get a good job without a college education.” However, seeing as you’re reading this guide, chances are you’ve already considered some of the downsides of going to college. Here are a few of them:

College is wildly expensive, with tuition, fees, books, room, and board at a public four-year college costing out-of-state students some $38,330 per year.
College debt delays important life milestones .
College takes up four years of your life that you could have been gaining real-world experience and earning money.
College doesn’t prepare you for the workplace.
A college degree doesn’t set you apart from the crowd anymore and won’t necessarily result in you landing a better job or earning more money – just ask the 43 percent of recent college graduates that are underemployed.
Here are another 101 reasons not to go to college .

Option Two: Get a Job

Option Three: Take Time Off

The third route available to you is taking time off after graduating high school, whether it’s a defined period like a gap year or an indefinite amount of time. Even if you think you’re sure you know what you want to do next, taking time to reflect on what you want to do next, experiment with different things, learn some skills, gain experience, or travel and broaden your perspective is a good idea as this will either validate or discredit your assumptions. This way, you won’t waste time simply because you didn’t have enough information.

What to Do After You Graduate High School

The best time to travel is while you’re young, healthy, and comfortable traveling on a budget. Traveling is a great way to broaden your horizons, gain experience of the world, and make friends. Traveling forces you out of your comfort zone and accelerates the rate at which you become independent and gain confidence. There are plenty of ways to travel affordably, including backpacking , Couchsurfing , living in homestays , doing a workaway , housesitting , teaching English abroad , au pairing , working as crew on a yacht, and many more.

Start Something

Start a project. Whether you choose to monetize it or not is up to you, but the simple act of working on something consistently every day will teach you a lot about business, work ethic, time management, financial planning, marketing, and more. You can base your project on one of your existing hobbies or challenge yourself to learn something entirely new, like learning how to code and building a website or app. If you enjoy writing, start a blog, or write a book. If you’re into video games, consider starting a twitch channel or playing professional eSports. If you’re interested in photography, try to turn it into a business. Start a YouTube channel. Write a cookbook. The possibilities are endless, and you might be surprised by how much money you can make by monetizing your hobbies.

Become a Content Creator

Make Money Online

You’re probably noticing a theme here: the internet represents unlimited opportunity if you’re ambitious and creative enough to take full advantage. Becoming an online entrepreneur is easier than you might think. Whether you choose to establish a freelancing business or set up an eCommerce store, there are plenty of shortcuts available. You can start by selling goods through a platform like Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest, or you could use a dedicated eCommerce platform like Etsy, eBay, or Amazon. If you have a following on social media, you can even make money by promoting other people’s products through affiliate marketing . If you want to learn more about marketing, read our recent post How to Get Started In Digital Marketing .

Try a Trade

If you enjoy practical, hands-on work, you might consider learning a trade. In the U.S. and elsewhere, there is a growing talent shortage in trade jobs, with 62 percent of firms already struggling to fill positions. Welders, machinists, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, technicians, nurses, and many other trade careers are seeing rising demand. Many trades can be learned on the job through apprenticeships or through part-time courses, and technical diplomas and degrees take far less time than a four-year college.

Always Be Learning

Try New Things, Even (Especially) If They Scare You

Whatever you end up doing after school, make sure you actively try new things and reflect on these experiences. The more you sample and experiment with working in different roles and industries, the sooner you’ll realize what kind of work makes you come alive. Do things that scare you. For instance, if you hate public speaking, don’t hide from it – join Toastmasters and practice until you’re not only comfortable but confident speaking in front of a crowd. Do you get anxious about speaking on the phone? Do a stint working in an outbound call center or support role. The more you face the fears that you perceive as your “weaknesses,” the faster you’ll grow personally and professionally.

Rapid Prototype Your Career

Come up with an idea or plan – Choose a theory to test, e.g. “I want to be a software engineer.”
Design your “product” – Plan your experiment, e.g. “I’ll get an internship or entry-level job at company X and see what it’s like to be a software engineer there.” Decide in advance how long your experiment will run for before you assess how your experience weighs up against your expectations.
Develop your “product” – Get the job and give it your best shot.
Test your “product” – evaluate your experience and consider what you’ve learned and how you’ve felt, and how you can build on this experience.
Deploy – Take action: Will you move on to a different opportunity? Will you stay and start working towards a promotion?

Get an Internship (or Several)

Work for Free

Don’t Worry About What You’re Going to Do “For the Rest of Your Life”

The idea that you’re supposed to figure out “what to do with the rest of your life” is a myth. Today, 30-year one-track careers are a thing of the past. In 2019, around 21 percent of millennials said that they had changed jobs within the past year, according to a Gallup poll. Another survey found that 58 percent of millennials said they plan to change jobs this year, in pursuit of better learning and growth opportunities. The same study found that 89 percent would change jobs if the right company or role came along. Conventional wisdom says that you should stay in every job for at least a year or two to avoid coming across as flaky to future employers, but the truth is, no one cares how long you worked as a barista or a pizza delivery person, especially if you can clearly articulate that you hopped around in pursuit of personal growth.

Build Your Own Signal

Join Praxis: The Ultimate College Alternative

Praxis is a college alternative that’s designed to put you in the driver’s seat of your career by shortening the distance between learning and finding a full-time paying job. Our 12-month program is designed to help participants discover how business works and how their unique interests correspond to real-world careers. The aim is for participants to find opportunities that line up with their interests and talents – and then support them in building the skills they need to turn those interests into successful careers. In the first six months (the bootcamp portion of the program) we help participants to develop their skills and practice them through portfolio projects – that is, we help them to build their own signal. During this time, we also help to match participants with full-time paid job opportunities, coach them through the application process, and provide ongoing support and mentoring for their first six months on the job. We believe that our success should be tied to yours, which is why we’ve put skin in the game: if you don’t land a full-time job within six months of graduating from the program, you get your money back. For more information, read our Program Guide , find out about our different payment plans , including deferring payment until you start earning, or read some of our graduates’ success stories .

Get the Guide!

Learn how Praxis can help you take your career to the next level.

How to Decide What to Do After High School

Navigating the transition from high school begins even before crossing the graduation stage. As teens enter their junior and senior years, they begin to wonder “What’s next?” When young people identify their passions, they are better able to map out what they enjoy doing to the wide array of options after high school.

At Boys & Girls Clubs, kids and teens often get a head-start on thinking about careers, college and other post-high school opportunities. Club members explore interests along with potential careers and postsecondary education such as college or trade school that could be a good fit for their future. Every day, caring mentors guide Club members as they identify aspirations, create a post-secondary plan and take steps like completing financial aid applications.

Workforce readiness at Boys & Girls Clubs supports kids and teens in thinking big about what’s next. In fact, more than two-thirds of 12th grade Club members expect to attend a 4-year college, compared to 48% of their peers nationally.

Whether you’re a Club member or not, there are lots of ways to explore what’s next after high school – from exploring what’s important to you to deciding on next steps to achieve your goals and dreams. Young people who report working tirelessly to achieve their goals are more likely to have excellent financial health, according to a national study of young adults ages 18-35 conducted by Navient and Ipsos.

What should I do with my life after high school?

There are many ways to find success after high school — but where, how and at what cost? When thinking about college and career, it’s important to start by identifying your interests and how you can realistically live out your interests and passions.

Parents, friends, and mentors can be valuable conversation partners to point out a young person’s special talents, activities that energize them and where they most often succeed. Ask someone in your life, “What do you see me getting excited about? What are my strengths?”

Self-examination is another important step to identify passions. High school students can answer these questions (and others) to find their passion and start matching it to a great future.

If I could teach people about one thing, it would be…
I don’t mind waking up early if it’s so that I can…
If I won first place in something, it would be for…
My friends always ask my advice about…
If money or school didn’t matter, I would spend my time…
I feel most alive and happy when I am…
I lose track of time whenever I am…

Let these conversations and answers help you identify the interests you care most about, and then start researching jobs and opportunities related to those interests.

Should I go to college? How do I pick a college?

Deciding on the right education pathway can be aided by creating a pros and cons list. You can create a pros and cons list by doing research on a particular career that may be of interest and exploring how to gain those skills to reach that career.

Many careers require a degree, so doing research is important on your potential career choice to further understand their employability skills and requirements. Select the education option that gives you the degree or training for the career you are most interested in right now. It’s also helpful to select a secondary option that could work for you. U.S. military colleges are generally four-year institutions and are a great option to consider.

Are you unsure of careers you’re interested in but know that you want to pursue a degree? Consider your passions and explore college options that have programs and degrees aligned with your interests. Many of these programs provide lists of the types of careers graduates of the program go into, which will help you decide if those programs make sense for you.

Consider taking a tour of the colleges you are interested in or virtual campus tours and envisioning yourself there. You can also speak with an admissions counselor or school representative during a tour or college fair. Consider your budget, scholarships, and application criteria to help narrow down selections.

Resist falling in love with just one school. It’s important to keep your options open until you know what kind of financial aid you might receive and get a realistic picture of your total out-of-pocket costs to earn your desired degree.

If I’m not pursuing college, what should I do?

In addition to a four-year university, there are numerous ways to continue your education after high school. Community college, trade, or vocational school—whether in-person or online –offer a wide selection of degrees, courses, and trainings in specific fields.

Some companies offer apprenticeships or on-the-job training programs to attract people for certain careers. Getting an entry-level job is another option that provides more time to develop practical skills while building a personal career development plan. Others might consider enlisting in the military.

Some people find benefit in taking a gap year to work, travel or consider next steps in their education.

How to figure out your future career

The good news is no one expects you to know your career when you’re a teenager—and your career can evolve over your working life. This is the time to explore, discover and wonder about the possibilities.

To figure out careers that might interest you, continue exploring career options that match with your passion and interests. Remember to think outside the box. Love sports? There are many careers in the sports industry beyond becoming a professional athlete. Love writing but aren’t sure you can make a living as a novelist? Know that there are diverse jobs that apply writing skills across all industries.

There are lots of online tools that support career exploration. In addition to in-person guidance and mentorship, Boys & Girls Clubs members can access Roadmap to Careers , an online career interest assessment and video library that illustrates how people got started in various industries.

The Minnesota Career Fields, Clusters and Pathways chart is another tool that organizes industries and job types, some of which may not have crossed your mind before or you may not have heard of. If you select your top career choices, then you can search for firsthand experiences like talking with a professional in the field or working an internship .

With many exciting possibilities for life after high school, remember the starting point is to identify your passion. You will be on your way to a great future.

Since 2021, Navient has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to launch a new career explorations tool, Roadmap to Careers, and develop six interactive digital resources on how to pay for college as part of the Diplomas to Degrees curriculum.

Stay in the Know

Boys & Girls Clubs provide mentorship, programs and meaningful life experiences that build youth confidence and prepare the leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers of tomorrow. Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest resources and stories.

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Academic Writing

How to Write Any High School Essay

Last Updated: March 22, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising . Emily Listmann is a private tutor in San Carlos, California. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 563,642 times.

Writing an essay is an important basic skill that you will need to succeed in high school and college. While essays will vary depending on your teacher and the assignment, most essays will follow the same basic structure. By supporting your thesis with information in your body paragraphs, you can successfully write an essay for any course!

Writing Help

Planning Your Essay

Step 1 Determine the type of essay you need to write.

Expository essays uses arguments to investigate and explain a topic.
Persuasive essays try to convince the readers to believe or accept your specific point of view
Narrative essays tell about a real-life personal experience.
Descriptive essays are used to communicate deeper meaning through the use of descriptive words and sensory details.

Step 2 Do preliminary research on your essay’s topic.

Look through books or use search engines online to look at the broad topic before narrowing your ideas down into something more concise.

Step 3 Create an arguable thesis statement

For example, the statement “Elephants are used to perform in circuses” does not offer an arguable point. Instead, you may try something like “Elephants should not be kept in the circus since they are mistreated.” This allows you to find supporting arguments or for others to argue against it.
Keep in mind that some essay writing will not require an argument, such as a narrative essay. Instead, you might focus on a pivotal point in the story as your main claim.

Talk to your school’s librarian for direction on specific books or databases you could use to find your information.
Many schools offer access to online databases like EBSCO or JSTOR where you can find reliable information.
Wikipedia is a great starting place for your research, but it can be edited by anyone in the world. Instead, look at the article’s references to find the sites where the information really came from.
Use Google Scholar if you want to find peer-reviewed scholarly articles for your sources.
Make sure to consider the author’s credibility when reviewing sources. If a source does not include the author’s name, then it might not be a good option.

Outlines will vary in size or length depending on how long your essay needs to be. Longer essays will have more body paragraphs to support your arguments.

Starting an Essay

Step 1 Hook the readers with a relevant fact, quote, or question for the first sentence.

Make sure your quotes or information are accurate and not an exaggeration of the truth, or else readers will question your validity throughout the rest of your essay.

Step 2 Introduce your thesis in one sentence.

For example, “Because global warming is causing the polar ice caps to melt, we need to eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels within the next 5 years.” Or, “Since flavored tobacco appeals mainly to children and teens, it should be illegal for tobacco manufacturers to sell these products.”
The thesis is usually the last or second to last sentence in your introduction.

Step 3 Provide a sentence that’s a mini-outline for the topics that your essay covers.

Use the main topics of your body paragraphs as an idea of what to include in your mini-outline.

Step 4 Keep the introduction between 4-5 sentences.

Writing the Body Paragraphs

Step 1 Start each paragraph with a topic sentence.

Think of your topic sentences as mini-theses so your paragraphs only argue a specific point.

Step 2 Include evidence and quotes from your research and cite your sources.

Many high school essays are written in MLA or APA style. Ask your teacher what format they want you to follow if it’s not specified.

Step 3 Provide your own analysis of the evidence you find.

Unless you’re writing a personal essay, avoid the use of “I” statements since this could make your essay look less professional.

Step 4 Use transitional phrases between each of your body paragraphs.

For example, if your body paragraphs discuss similar points in a different way, you can use phrases like “in the same way,” “similarly,” and “just as” to start other body paragraphs.
If you are posing different points, try phrases like “in spite of,” “in contrast,” or “however” to transition.

Concluding Your Essay

Step 1 Restate your thesis and summarize your arguments briefly.

For example, if your thesis was, “The cell phone is the most important invention in the past 30 years,” then you may restate the thesis in your conclusion like, “Due to the ability to communicate anywhere in the world and access information easily, the cell phone is a pivotal invention in human history.”
If you’re only writing a 1-page paper, restating your main ideas isn’t necessary.

Step 2 Discuss why the subject of your paper is relevant moving forward.

For example, if you write an essay discussing the themes of a book, think about how the themes are affecting people’s lives today.

Step 3 End the paragraph with a lasting thought that ties into your introduction.

Try to pick the same type of closing sentence as you used as your attention getter.

Step 4 Include a Works Cited page if you need one.

Including a Works Cited page shows that the information you provided isn’t all your own and allows the reader to visit the sources to see the raw information for themselves.
Avoid using online citation machines since they may be outdated.

Revising the Paper

Step 1 Determine if your point comes across clearly through your arguments.

Have a peer or parent read through your essay to see if they understand what point you’re trying to make.

Step 2 Check the flow of your essay between paragraphs.

For example, if your essay discusses the history of an event, make sure your sentences flow in a chronological way in the order the events happened.

Step 3 Rewrite or remove any sections that go off-topic.

If you cut parts out of your essay, make sure to reread it to see if it affects the flow of how it reads.

Step 4 Read through your essay for punctuation or spelling errors.

Community Q&A

Allow ample time to layout your essay before you get started writing. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
If you have writer's block , take a break for a few minutes. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 2
Check the rubric provided by your teacher and compare your essay to it. This helps you gauge what you need to include or change. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

Avoid using plagiarism since this could result in academic consequences. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1

↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/types-of-essays/
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
↑ https://guides.libs.uga.edu/reliability
↑ https://facultyweb.ivcc.edu/rrambo/eng1001/outline.htm
↑ https://examples.yourdictionary.com/20-compelling-hook-examples-for-essays.html
↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement.html
↑ https://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/five_par.htm
↑ https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/jason.laviolette/persuasive-essay-outline
↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/paragraphs/topicsentences
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/transitions/
↑ https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/ending-essay-conclusions
↑ https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/how-to-write-an-essay/conclusion
↑ https://pitt.libguides.com/citationhelp
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/

About This Article

Writing good essays is an important skill to have in high school, and you can write a good one by planning it out and organizing it well. Before you start, do some research on your topic so you can come up with a strong, specific thesis statement, which is essentially the main argument of your essay. For instance, your thesis might be something like, “Elephants should not be kept in the circus because they are mistreated.” Once you have your thesis, outline the paragraphs for your essay. You should have an introduction that includes your thesis, at least 3 body paragraphs that explain your main points, and a conclusion paragraph. Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that states the main point of the paragraph. As you write your main points, make sure to include evidence and quotes from your research to back it up. To learn how to revise your paper, read more from our Writing co-author! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Preparing for Life After High School: A Four-Year Checklist for Students

Each year of high school, students can take steps to prepare for what they’ll do after graduation. PrepSTEP for High Schools from LearningExpress is a college and career readiness solution that offers tools to help students build core academic skills, explore career options, and prepare for college and military admissions tests.

You can help students map out a plan with this year-by-year checklist:

Freshman Year

Freshmen should take every opportunity to make themselves stand out among their peers. Here are some of the steps they can take:

Create a yearly schedule for achieving graduation requirements . School guidance counselors can help students develop a plan.
Explore career interests by conducting online research and attending career fairs . PrepSTEP offers career factsheets, articles and e-books that help students make informed decisions about securing a job in their desired field.
Begin participating in leadership or community-based activities. Many high schools require community service hours for graduation. Students should continue involvement in these activities throughout high school.
Sharpen core academic skills. PrepSTEP offers e-books, tutorials and practice tests that can help students develop their skills in English language arts, social studies, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, math and computers.
Cultivate good study habits. PrepSTEP ’s High School Success Skills module offers strategies to help students use their time wisely, stay organized, take good notes, and develop information literacy skills.

Sophomore Year

Learning how to manage school and extra-curricular activities can be difficult enough without factoring in college or career exploration. Sophomores should schedule time for these activities:

Take more challenging classes. Many high schools offer honors and AP-level courses in core academic subjects as well as rigorous career and technical education classes.
Build workplace skills. Even part-time jobs require students to demonstrate professional behavior. PrepSTEP’s Career Exploration center includes tutorials and e-books on the topics of teamwork, effective communication, workplace etiquette, time management, job interviewing and more. The Career Preparation module includes practice tests for the ACT® WorkKeys® Assessments, which measure the workplace skills that can impact job performance.
Attend college and career fairs. Here are some tips for plotting a course of action. PrepSTEP’s School Finder can help students with their initial college search.
Reach out to mentors in fields of interest. Ask questions about their careers and arrange to shadow them for a day.
Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT®. PrepSTEP offers practice tests to prepare students for the PSAT/NMSQT® exams in math, reading, and writing and language. Practice tests for the TOEFL iBT® are also available for non-native English speakers.

PrepSTEP for High Schools from LearningExpress offers tools to help students build core academic skills, explore career options, and prepare for college and military admissions tests.

Junior year.

Junior year is an important year for students, especially if they are college-bound. It’s the year students begin taking college admissions exams. Here is a list of what they should do:

Take the PSAT/ NMSQT ® . Students must take the test by grade 11 to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program . PrepSTEP’s simulated full-length practice tests prepare students for taking the official PSAT exam.
Schedule campus visits. It’s important to select a college or university that is the right fit. Campus visits offer a glimpse into what life there would be like and can help students narrow their choices.
Research ways to pay for college. Options include scholarships, student loans and federal student aid for eligible applicants. PrepSTEP’s Scholarship Finder enables students to search more than 24,000 scholarships and other awards.
Take the SAT ® and/or ACT ® . PrepSTEP offers a guided SAT® Prep Program as well as flashcards and practice tests for all sections of the SAT ® and ACT ® .
Request transcripts and letters of recommendations from teachers and mentors.

Senior Year

By senior year, most students should have clearly defined goals. Here are some key activities to focus on:

Take (or retake) college admissions or career certification exams. In addition to practice tests, PrepSTEP offers SAT® preparation tutorials. For students wishing to join the military, PrepSTEP offers factsheets about each branch of the armed forces as well as military entrance exam prep (ASVAB). For students planning to work right after high school, PrepSTEP offers certification practice tests for careers in allied health, civil service, culinary arts, firefighting, nursing, law enforcement, real estate and more.
Complete and submit college applications. PrepSTEP offers e-books and tutorials to guide students as they write their college admissions essays.
Complete and submit scholarship applications.
Keep grades up and verify that all graduation requirements will be met on schedule. Students and their guidance counselors should be keeping track.
Optional: Take an AP® exam. Offered each May, AP exams provide students an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of college-level material and earn college credit at most colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. PrepSTEP includes study tips and practice tests for nearly two dozen AP exams, including biology, calculus, English literature and composition, physics, French, Spanish and world history.

High school is a busy and often stressful time for students. It’s important that they know there are effective tools and resources like PrepSTEP available to help them prepare for their future.

Help students chart a course toward a successful future

Download the four-year checklist to help students complete their graduation requirements and develop the skills they need to succeed in life. Not a PrepSTEP subscriber? Bring this valuable tool to your high school!

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, what should high school students do after school.

Extracurriculars

High school students have a lot of options for what they can do once the school day ends: they can study, do homework, participate in a sport, watch TV, work at a job, play video games, attend a club meeting and more. Some of these activities are more useful and productive than others, and spending your time after school wisely can help you become better prepared for college and the rest of your future.

Whether you're a student or a parent, read on to learn about the benefits afterschool activities can have and which are the best ones for high schools students to participate in.

Benefits of Afterschool Activities

Afterschool activities refer to any organized program that students participate in once the school day has finished. While after school activities vary widely, they can have many similar benefits. Below are some of the most common.

Become a Better Student

Students who participate in after school activities often perform better in class compared to those who don’t participate in them. A study conducted in 2011 showed that high school students who attend after school programs are less likely to drop out, have better attendance records, and have a more positive attitude towards school. They also often had an increase in their GPA and standardized test scores, so participating in an afterschool program can raise your grades!

Improvements in grades were seen regardless of what type of afterschool program the student participated in, so you don't necessarily have to be in an academic afterschool activity to get this benefit, sports and clubs work just as well.

Afterschool activities can also increase your chances of being accepted to college because you can include your participation in these activities on your college applications. Colleges love to see students who were involved in high school, and participating in an afterschool activity is a great way to show your interests and academic motivation.

Learn New Skills

Afterschool activities can also teach you new skills and hobbies or allow you to continue current activities you enjoy. These can be hobbies you do for your own personal interest, or you can also choose to participate in afterschool activities that give you skills that will be useful for college and future careers.

For example, if you are interested in being a doctor, you can be a part of your school’s Science Olympiad team or volunteer at a hospital. Because there are so many afterschool activities available, there’s a good chance you can find one that matches your interests.

Meet New People

One of the most popular reasons to participate in after school activities is that they give you an opportunity to spend time with your friends as well as make new ones . Participating in the same activity as someone else often means you have a shared interest, such as volunteering or playing a sport, and that can make it easier to become friends because you already know you have something in common.

Afterschool activities can also increase student safety by giving you a supervised environment to be in after school. If your parents are worried about you being on your own before they come home from work, an afterschool activity can put their mind at ease while allowing you to participate in something you enjoy.

Much like this crossing guard, afterschool activities can help keep students safe.

Read on to learn about different types of afterschool activities you can participate in.

Types of Afterschool Activities

Below are five of the most common and productive ways for high school students to spend their time after school. I've included a short description for each one, along with any particular benefits it offers and some common examples.

Traditional Afterschool Programs

Afterschool programs were originally designed as a way for younger students to be supervised while their parents were at work, but with the benefits of these programs becoming more apparent , they have expanded to cover high school students and include a variety of activities. Today, roughly 2 million high school students participate in afterschool programs in the US.

Some of these programs are less structured and simply offer a place for you to study or receive homework help, while others offer activities and sports you can participate in, similar to a school club or sports team. There are also many special interest afterschool programs available now, focusing on topics as varied as preparing for college, doing volunteer work, or learning a new language.

Because these programs are so varied, they can have numerous benefits. Many provide tutoring and homework help that you can use if you are struggling in school or just need some help in a certain subject. These programs are often designed to encourage teamwork and group activities, so they can also be a great place to make friends. They also often have mentors who can teach you new things and give you advice when your parents are not around.

Examples: Your high school may offer its own afterschool programs, or it may be affiliated with one or more national programs, such as those listed below:

Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Scouting (such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts )
After-School All-Stars
Future Business Leaders of America

Sports are a common afterschool activity for high school students to participate in. Many students enjoy being part of a team, feeling a sense of competition, and being active. These can be sports teams through your school, such as the school football or soccer team, or they can be club sports or community teams.

Examples: Common high school sports include football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, hockey, swimming, cross country, and tennis. Less common sports include karate, fencing, skiing, and horseback riding.

Joining a club is a great way to gain a new interest or continue to pursue an interest or activity you already enjoy. There is a huge variety of clubs available, and your high school likely offers a large number of clubs to choose from. Besides giving you the opportunity to spend more time on a particular interest or hobby, joining a club can also give you leadership experience if you choose to organize a new event or become a club officer.

Examples: There are clubs that cover nearly every interest, from writing club, to math team, to a painting group. Your school’s website or student handbook will likely have a list of all the available clubs; if not, ask your academic adviser about club offerings. If your school doesn't offer a club you're interested in, you can also start your own. Check out our guide to starting your own high school club!

Job/Internship

If you are looking for a way to earn money or gain experience to include on your resume and college applications, getting a job or an internship can be a great way to spend your time after school. Getting a part-time job as a high school student can help you gain new skills and become more responsible, as well as earn some spending money.

Internships can be a great way to get experience more directly related to a future career you’d like to have, but be aware that it can be difficult for high school students to get an internship, and many of them are unpaid.

Examples: Common jobs for high school students include babysitting, working at a grocery store, being a waiter/waitress, tutoring, and working as a sales associate. Many places now offer internships, from a large business to your local museum. To learn more, check out our guides on the 8 best jobs for high school students and how to get an internship as a high school student.

Volunteer Work

If there is an issue that you care about or a group of people you’d like to help, then volunteering can be an excellent after school activity. Volunteering is a great way to spend time helping others or working on a cause you’re passionate about. Many organizations accept volunteers, so you are likely to find a volunteer opportunity that interests you.

You can also use your volunteer work as experience on your resume and college applications, and it can be a good (albeit non-payed) alternative if you can’t find a job or internship that you find interesting.

Examples: There are a wide variety of places where you can perform volunteer work or community service. Check out our guide on the 9 best places to do community service as well as 129 great community service project ideas.

How to Get Involved

Now that you know some of the best ways to spend your time after school, you can begin thinking about what activities you’d like to get involved in. Follow the steps below to help choose the best activities for you.

#1: Think About Your Interests

Afterschool activities are much more enjoyable when they’re focused on something you care about, so start by making a list of your interests. This can include your favorite classes, hobbies you enjoy, sports you’ve wanted to try, or what you plan on studying in college.

If you need more ideas, check out our guide to the complete list of extracurricular activities , which includes hundreds of examples for you to look through.

What do I like to do?

#2: See What Your School Offers

The next step is to see if your school offers any afterschool activities that align with your interests. Check your student handbook or the school’s website to see if they list the clubs, sports, and other activities they offer. If you need more help, ask your guidance counselor. You can also ask your friends if they are a part of any afterschool programs that they enjoy and would recommend.

#3: Look for Other Activities in Your Community

While participating in afterschool activities through your school is often easier because you don’t have to travel to get there and you likely know some people already, your community may also have great opportunities for you to spend your time after school, such as part-time jobs or volunteer work.

Your adviser or your school’s career services may be able to help you find opportunities, but you can also ask around your community. Check job boards or your town hall, or you can also contact places where you’d like to work or volunteer directly.

#4: Consider Logistics

Before you join any afterschool activities, you should think about how much time you’ll be able to devote to them. Afterschool activities can be a great way to have fun and strengthen your college application, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of your academics.

Think about how much time your afterschool activities will require and how much time you’ll have to devote to them. If you’re unsure about the time commitment for a certain activity, ask the coach or supervisor for an estimate. Don’t sign up for more activities than you have time for because doing so will only cause you to feel stressed out and could cause your grades to suffer as well.

If you have trouble motivating yourself to study or complete your schoolwork, you may want to consider participating in an afterschool program that offers tutoring and academic guidance. Popular programs include the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and After-School All-Stars, or your school may offer its own program. These programs are great for anyone looking to improve their academics, and they can be particularly helpful for freshman who are just getting used to high school workloads.

Bottom Line

As a high school student, there are many ways you can spend your time after school, but some activities are more productive and beneficial than others. Look for activities that you will enjoy and that will give you useful skills and experience in order to best prepare yourself for college and the future.

What's Next?

Interested in learning more about community service? Check out our guide on what community service is and how it can benefit you.

Trying to decide if you should get a job? Read our guide to the pros and cons of getting a job as a teen.

Want to find the perfect extracurricular for you? Check out our list of hundreds of extracurricular activities for high school students .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download them for free now:

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Essay on Life After School for Students and Children

500+ words essay on life after school.

School life is one of the most memorable and relaxing times in one’s life. You enjoy that period tension-free and just go with the flow. However, what happens after our school life ends? We are taught about all the equations and numerical, but we are not prepared about life after school. Life after school requires a more practical approach. It is the most crucial time of your life which will determine your future. We must be prepared beforehand so that life after school will become full of comfort for us. The most important thing is to set goals and build a career.

Building a Career

As we all know, school life is a time which is very easy and comfortable. You stay in the same place for over 12-14 years and the main concern is just to make it to the next class. However, after school life ends, you are sent out in the world to make choices for yourself. That is why it becomes essential to build a career from the point so that you can have a brighter future.

In order to build your career, you need to set goals . The goals do not have to necessarily be long-term. In order to achieve success, you can set both long-term and short-term goals. To begin with, choose a career path that brings you interest. It is highly unlikely that you will excel in some fields that you do not take interest in. Similarly, also make sure that it has a fine scope in the future.

Most importantly, make sure that you possess the skills to pursue that career. If you do not, there is no harm as you have time to acquire those skills through courses and classes. You can enroll yourself in different types of courses which will help you build a fine career out of your skills and talents. For instance, those who want to go into the culinary field can take up cooking classes learn the art beforehand.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

The Balancing Act

Once you go out of school, you will learn life after school is all about striking the perfect balance. Unlike your school life, you will now have to balance your work and life. There will be people who will ask you to bury your head into books or just constantly work on mastering certain skills. But, you must not forget to strike a perfect balance.

As we all know that excess of anything is harmful, whether it is studies or play. Therefore, you must not let the pressure get to you. It will only be harmful to you as it will hamper with your health and impact it negatively.

Always remember to maintain a schedule with an adequate amount of recreational facilities. Give time to yourself and keep taking short breaks. There is no harm in hanging out with friends whenever you feel the pressure is too much.

Also, remember to exercise well to keep your mind and body fresh. Goals have the influence to reorganize things. However, your goals and schedule arranged to attain the same must not be too rigorous. It should be feasible and you must work with all your heart to achieve them.

Q.1 What is the most important thing to do after school?

A.1 The most important thing to do after school is to choose your career path. One must utilize this time carefully as it will determine what their future will be like.

Q.2 How can we balance things in our life after school?

A.2 Try to strike a balance between work and play. Do not bury yourself into books or burden yourself with back to back coaching. Make time for yourself and recreational activities to pave a brighter future.

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What I’ve Learned From My Students’ College Essays

The genre is often maligned for being formulaic and melodramatic, but it’s more important than you think.

An illustration of a high school student with blue hair, dreaming of what to write in their college essay.

By Nell Freudenberger

Most high school seniors approach the college essay with dread. Either their upbringing hasn’t supplied them with several hundred words of adversity, or worse, they’re afraid that packaging the genuine trauma they’ve experienced is the only way to secure their future. The college counselor at the Brooklyn high school where I’m a writing tutor advises against trauma porn. “Keep it brief , ” she says, “and show how you rose above it.”

I started volunteering in New York City schools in my 20s, before I had kids of my own. At the time, I liked hanging out with teenagers, whom I sometimes had more interesting conversations with than I did my peers. Often I worked with students who spoke English as a second language or who used slang in their writing, and at first I was hung up on grammar. Should I correct any deviation from “standard English” to appeal to some Wizard of Oz behind the curtains of a college admissions office? Or should I encourage students to write the way they speak, in pursuit of an authentic voice, that most elusive of literary qualities?

In fact, I was missing the point. One of many lessons the students have taught me is to let the story dictate the voice of the essay. A few years ago, I worked with a boy who claimed to have nothing to write about. His life had been ordinary, he said; nothing had happened to him. I asked if he wanted to try writing about a family member, his favorite school subject, a summer job? He glanced at his phone, his posture and expression suggesting that he’d rather be anywhere but in front of a computer with me. “Hobbies?” I suggested, without much hope. He gave me a shy glance. “I like to box,” he said.

I’ve had this experience with reluctant writers again and again — when a topic clicks with a student, an essay can unfurl spontaneously. Of course the primary goal of a college essay is to help its author get an education that leads to a career. Changes in testing policies and financial aid have made applying to college more confusing than ever, but essays have remained basically the same. I would argue that they’re much more than an onerous task or rote exercise, and that unlike standardized tests they are infinitely variable and sometimes beautiful. College essays also provide an opportunity to learn precision, clarity and the process of working toward the truth through multiple revisions.

When a topic clicks with a student, an essay can unfurl spontaneously.

Even if writing doesn’t end up being fundamental to their future professions, students learn to choose language carefully and to be suspicious of the first words that come to mind. Especially now, as college students shoulder so much of the country’s ethical responsibility for war with their protest movement, essay writing teaches prospective students an increasingly urgent lesson: that choosing their own words over ready-made phrases is the only reliable way to ensure they’re thinking for themselves.

Teenagers are ideal writers for several reasons. They’re usually free of preconceptions about writing, and they tend not to use self-consciously ‘‘literary’’ language. They’re allergic to hypocrisy and are generally unfiltered: They overshare, ask personal questions and call you out for microaggressions as well as less egregious (but still mortifying) verbal errors, such as referring to weed as ‘‘pot.’’ Most important, they have yet to put down their best stories in a finished form.

I can imagine an essay taking a risk and distinguishing itself formally — a poem or a one-act play — but most kids use a more straightforward model: a hook followed by a narrative built around “small moments” that lead to a concluding lesson or aspiration for the future. I never get tired of working with students on these essays because each one is different, and the short, rigid form sometimes makes an emotional story even more powerful. Before I read Javier Zamora’s wrenching “Solito,” I worked with a student who had been transported by a coyote into the U.S. and was reunited with his mother in the parking lot of a big-box store. I don’t remember whether this essay focused on specific skills or coping mechanisms that he gained from his ordeal. I remember only the bliss of the parent-and-child reunion in that uninspiring setting. If I were making a case to an admissions officer, I would suggest that simply being able to convey that experience demonstrates the kind of resilience that any college should admire.

The essays that have stayed with me over the years don’t follow a pattern. There are some narratives on very predictable topics — living up to the expectations of immigrant parents, or suffering from depression in 2020 — that are moving because of the attention with which the student describes the experience. One girl determined to become an engineer while watching her father build furniture from scraps after work; a boy, grieving for his mother during lockdown, began taking pictures of the sky.

If, as Lorrie Moore said, “a short story is a love affair; a novel is a marriage,” what is a college essay? Every once in a while I sit down next to a student and start reading, and I have to suppress my excitement, because there on the Google Doc in front of me is a real writer’s voice. One of the first students I ever worked with wrote about falling in love with another girl in dance class, the absolute magic of watching her move and the terror in the conflict between her feelings and the instruction of her religious middle school. She made me think that college essays are less like love than limerence: one-sided, obsessive, idiosyncratic but profound, the first draft of the most personal story their writers will ever tell.

Nell Freudenberger’s novel “The Limits” was published by Knopf last month. She volunteers through the PEN America Writers in the Schools program.

Essay on My Plans After Graduation

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Plans After Graduation in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Plans After Graduation

My goals after school.

After I finish school, I want to keep learning. I plan to go to college and study to be a teacher. I love helping others and think teaching kids would be a great job for me.

Traveling Dreams

I also dream of traveling to see new places. I want to visit different countries, learn about other cultures, and make new friends from around the world.

Helping My Community

Lastly, I want to give back to my community. I hope to volunteer at local places like libraries or animal shelters, because I believe in making the world a better place.

250 Words Essay on My Plans After Graduation

My future steps.

After I finish school, I have many ideas about what I want to do. First, I plan to take a short break to rest and think about my next steps. This time will help me relax after all the hard work in school.

Further Education

I am very excited to keep learning. So, I plan to go to college. I want to study subjects that interest me and can help me get a good job in the future. I will choose my courses carefully to make sure I enjoy what I am studying.

Getting a Job

I also plan to find a part-time job. This will help me learn new skills that are not taught in school. It will also give me a chance to earn my own money and learn how to manage it.

I believe in giving back to the community. I plan to volunteer at local organizations. This will allow me to help others and make new friends.

Staying Healthy

Lastly, I want to stay healthy and active. I will join a sports team or a fitness club. This will be good for my body and mind.

In conclusion, after graduation, I look forward to learning more, earning some money, helping my community, and staying healthy. I am ready for these new adventures!

500 Words Essay on My Plans After Graduation

Introduction.

After I finish school, I have many ideas about what I want to do. Graduation is a big step that means I am growing up and can start making my own choices. In this essay, I will share my plans for what comes after I graduate.

Going to College

First, I plan to go to college. College is a place where I can learn more about the things I am interested in. I want to study subjects that will help me get a good job in the future. I also want to make new friends and learn about different cultures. College will help me become smarter and more ready for the world.

After college, I want to find a job that makes me happy. I hope to work in a place where I can use what I learned in college. I want to help people and make a difference in the world. I know that finding a job can be hard, but I am ready to work hard and be patient.

I also dream of traveling to new places. Traveling helps us see new things and learn how other people live. I want to visit different countries, try new foods, and speak new languages. I think traveling is a good way to learn, and it can make me a better person.

Helping My Family

My family is very important to me. They have helped me so much, and I want to give back to them. After I graduate and start working, I plan to help my family with money and other things they need. I want to make them proud and show them that their support was worth it.

Saving Money

Saving money is another big plan I have. I want to save money for things like a house and to have a family one day. It’s important to think about the future and be ready for whatever comes. I will try to be smart with my money and save a little bit every time I get paid.

Staying healthy is something I want to keep doing after I graduate. This means eating good food, exercising, and going to the doctor when I need to. Being healthy helps us do our best in life. I plan to join sports or go to the gym to stay fit and strong.

In conclusion, my plans after graduation are all about growing up and taking care of myself and my family. I want to learn more, work hard, travel, help my family, save money, and stay healthy. I am excited for the future and ready to start this new part of my life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on My Personal Ethics
Essay on My Parents Is My Hero
Essay on My Mother My Hero

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

A message, and some simple advice, for high school graduates

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Why Ivy League And Top Colleges Value Your Summer Job Experience

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High school student summer job

With summer break on the horizon, high school students across the country will soon start working summer jobs to earn extra money and build their resumes. While many students assume that scooping ice cream or walking dogs will contribute little to their college applicant profiles, summer jobs are what students make of them. Ivy League and other top schools want to admit students who are motivated self-starters, leaders in their communities, and industrious and conscientious members of society. A summer job—whether prestigious or seemingly insignificant—is often a student’s first foray into the professional world, offering them the opportunity to practice their networking acumen, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and build connections with potential recommenders for their college applications. Students who choose to coast and collect a paycheck may get little out of their summer jobs, but those who have Ivy League aspirations should take their summer work seriously—the colleges they apply to certainly will.

Here are five ways you can maximize your summer job to enhance your professional skills, develop networking opportunities, and level up your college admissions profile:

1. Start with a Professional Mindset

The first step to making the most of your summer job is adopting a professional mindset. Take your job—no matter how small it may seem—seriously and dedicate yourself to it. It may not be the vocation you ultimately wish to pursue, but focus on how the skills you can develop in your position will contribute to your future career goals. Show up on time, dress appropriately, and be enthusiastic about your tasks. Your attitude towards your job will not only impress your supervisors but also set a strong foundation for your professional reputation.

2. Network with Colleagues and Supervisors

Networking is not just for seasoned professionals; it’s a valuable skill for high school students. First and foremost, students should seek to make their presence known at their job rather than clocking in and out without building relationships. Take the time to learn about your managers’ career paths and seek their advice about how to navigate your own. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and show genuine interest in their experiences. These connections can provide valuable insights and potentially open doors for future opportunities.

Maintaining these relationships after your summer job has ended is just as important as building them in the first place. You never know how a connection may benefit you in the future as you build your resume, and recommenders with whom you have a longer history will offer great insights in your college letters of recommendation.

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Forbes asia 100 to watch 2024: nominations are open, the problem with elitism in corporate america, 3. develop your professional skill set.

No matter what your summer job is, you will have opportunities to hone valuable skills that will serve you throughout your career. If you are working a job in which you interact with clients (whether retail, food industry, child or pet care), you can develop your professional persona: speaking politely with clients, learning how to handle negative feedback with grace, solving problems creatively, and representing the company well. If you’re in an internally facing role, you can be diligent about showing up on time, being a team player, communicating effectively with peers and superiors, and creating an organized and effective workflow.

4. Seek Opportunities for Growth

One of the keys to maximizing any professional opportunity is setting measurable goals and taking proactive steps toward reaching them. Particularly if you return to the same job for multiple summers (which you should consider in order to demonstrate commitment and build lasting professional connections), be proactive in seeking opportunities for growth—doing so will demonstrate initiative and a willingness to learn, qualities that are highly regarded by employers and college admissions officers alike. For example, if you are working in a retail store, offer to help with inventory management or marketing efforts. If you are in a food service job, learn about the business side of the restaurant industry and offer to take on extra responsibilities. By taking on these extra tasks, you can gain a broader understanding of the business and demonstrate your commitment to professional growth.

5. Reflect on Your Experiences

One of the best things high school students can do to maximize their summer job experience on college applications is to keep a journal or written log of their experiences. Writing down the responsibilities you had and lessons you learned will help to jog your memory when it comes time to compile your activities list, help you articulate the qualities and duties you would like your supervisor to highlight in a letter of recommendation, and could even provide inspiration for your personal or supplemental essays!

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chemical formula for caffeine with three coffee beans on the side

Many of us can’t imagine starting the day without a cup of coffee. One reason may be that it supplies us with a jolt of caffeine, a mild stimulant to the central nervous system that quickly boosts our alertness and energy levels. [1] Of course, coffee is not the only caffeine-containing beverage. Read on to learn more about sources of caffeine, and a review of the research on this stimulant and health.

Absorption and Metabolism of Caffeine

The chemical name for the bitter white powder known as caffeine is 1,3,7 trimethylxanthine. Caffeine is absorbed within about 45 minutes after consuming, and peaks in the blood anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. [2] Caffeine in beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda is quickly absorbed in the gut and dissolves in both the body’s water and fat molecules. It is able to cross into the brain. Food or food components, such as fibers, in the gut can delay how quickly caffeine in the blood peaks. Therefore, drinking your morning coffee on an empty stomach might give you a quicker energy boost than if you drank it while eating breakfast.

Caffeine is broken down mainly in the liver. It can remain in the blood anywhere from 1.5 to 9.5 hours, depending on various factors. [2] Smoking speeds up the breakdown of caffeine, whereas pregnancy and oral contraceptives can slow the breakdown. During the third trimester of pregnancy, caffeine can remain in the body for up to 15 hours. [3]

People often develop a “caffeine tolerance” when taken regularly, which can reduce its stimulant effects unless a higher amount is consumed. When suddenly stopping all caffeine, withdrawal symptoms often follow such as irritability, headache, agitation, depressed mood, and fatigue. The symptoms are strongest within a few days after stopping caffeine, but tend to subside after about one week. [3] Tapering the amount gradually may help to reduce side effects.

Sources of Caffeine

Caffeine is naturally found in the fruit, leaves, and beans of coffee , cacao, and guarana plants. It is also added to beverages and supplements. There is a risk of drinking excess amounts of caffeinated beverages like soda and energy drinks because they are taken chilled and are easy to digest quickly in large quantities.

Coffee. 1 cup or 8 ounces of brewed coffee contains about 95 mg caffeine. The same amount of instant coffee contains about 60 mg caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee contains about 4 mg of caffeine. Learn more about coffee .
Espresso. 1 shot or 1.5 ounces contains about 65 mg caffeine.
Tea. 1 cup of black tea contains about 47 mg caffeine. Green tea contains about 28 mg. Decaffeinated tea contains 2 mg, and herbal tea contains none. Learn more about tea .
Soda. A 12-ounce can of regular or diet dark cola contains about 40 mg caffeine. The same amount of Mountain Dew contains 55 mg caffeine.
Chocolate (cacao) . 1 ounce of dark chocolate contains about 24 mg caffeine, whereas milk chocolate contains one-quarter of that amount.
Guarana. This is a seed from a South American plant that is processed as an extract in foods, energy drinks, and energy supplements. Guarana seeds contain about four times the amount of caffeine as that found in coffee beans. [4] Some drinks containing extracts of these seeds can contain up to 125 mg caffeine per serving.
Energy drinks. 1 cup or 8 ounces of an energy drink contains about 85 mg caffeine. However the standard energy drink serving is 16 ounces, which doubles the caffeine to 170 mg. Energy shots are much more concentrated than the drinks; a small 2 ounce shot contains about 200 mg caffeine. Learn more about energy drinks .
Supplements. Caffeine supplements contain about 200 mg per tablet, or the amount in 2 cups of brewed coffee.

Recommended Amounts

In the U.S., adults consume an average of 135 mg of caffeine daily, or the amount in 1.5 cups of coffee (1 cup = 8 ounces). [5] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers 400 milligrams (about 4 cups brewed coffee) a safe amount of caffeine for healthy adults to consume daily. However, pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to 200 mg a day (about 2 cups brewed coffee), according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children under age 12 should not consume any food or beverages with caffeine. For adolescents 12 and older, caffeine intake should be limited to no more than 100 mg daily. This is the amount in two or three 12-ounce cans of cola soda.

Caffeine and Health

Caffeine is associated with several health conditions. People have different tolerances and responses to caffeine, partly due to genetic differences. Consuming caffeine regularly, such as drinking a cup of coffee every day, can promote caffeine tolerance in some people so that the side effects from caffeine may decrease over time. Although we tend to associate caffeine most often with coffee or tea, the research below focuses mainly on the health effects of caffeine itself. Visit our features on coffee , tea , and energy drinks for more health information related to those beverages.

Caffeine can block the effects of the hormone adenosine, which is responsible for deep sleep . Caffeine binds to adenosine receptors in the brain, which not only lowers adenosine levels but also increases or decreases other hormones that affect sleep, including dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA. [2] Levels of melatonin, another hormone promoting sleep, can drop in the presence of caffeine as both are metabolized in the liver. Caffeine intake later in the day close to bedtime can interfere with good sleep quality. Although developing a caffeine tolerance by taking caffeine regularly over time may lower its disruptive effects, [1] those who have trouble sleeping may consider minimizing caffeine intake later in the day and before going to bed.

In sensitive individuals, caffeine can increase anxiety at doses of 400 mg or more a day (about 4 cups of brewed coffee). High amounts of caffeine may cause nervousness and speed up heart rate, symptoms that are also felt during an anxiety attack. Those who have an underlying anxiety or panic disorder are especially at risk of overstimulation when overloading on caffeine.

Caffeine stimulates the heart, increases blood flow, and increases blood pressure temporarily, particularly in people who do not usually consume caffeine. However, strong negative effects of caffeine on blood pressure have not been found in clinical trials, even in people with hypertension, and cohort studies have not found that coffee drinking is associated with a higher risk of hypertension. Studies also do not show an association of caffeine intake and atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart beat), heart disease , or stroke. [3]

Caffeine is often added to weight loss supplements to help “burn calories.” There is no evidence that caffeine causes significant weight loss. It may help to boost energy if one is feeling fatigued from restricting caloric intake, and may reduce appetite temporarily. Caffeine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which plays a role in suppressing hunger, enhancing satiety, and increasing the breakdown of fat cells to be used for energy. [6] Cohort studies following large groups of people suggest that a higher caffeine intake is associated with slightly lower rates of weight gain in the long term. [3] However, a fairly large amount of caffeine (equivalent to 6 cups of coffee a day) may be needed to achieve a modest increase in calorie “burn.” Additional calories obtained from cream, milk, or sweetener added to a caffeinated beverage like coffee or tea can easily negate any calorie deficit caused by caffeine.

Caffeine can cross the placenta, and both mother and fetus metabolize caffeine slowly. A high intake of caffeine by the mother can lead to prolonged high caffeine blood levels in the fetus. Reduced blood flow and oxygen levels may result, increasing the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. [3] However, lower intakes of caffeine have not been found harmful during pregnancy when limiting intakes to no more than 200 mg a day. A review of controlled clinical studies found that caffeine intake, whether low, medium, or high doses, did not appear to increase the risk of infertility. [7]

Most studies on liver disease and caffeine have specifically examined coffee intake. Caffeinated coffee intake is associated with a lower risk of liver cancer, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Caffeine may prevent the fibrosis (scarring) of liver tissue by blocking adenosine, which is responsible for the production of collagen that is used to build scar tissue. [3]

Studies have shown that higher coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of gallstones. [8] Decaffeinated coffee does not show as strong a connection as caffeinated coffee. Therefore, it is likely that caffeine contributes significantly to this protective effect. The gallbladder is an organ that produces bile to help break down fats; consuming a very high fat diet requires more bile, which can strain the gallbladder and increase the risk of gallstones. It is believed that caffeine may help to stimulate contractions in the gallbladder and increase the secretion of cholecystokinin, a hormone that speeds the digestion of fats.

Caffeine may protect against Parkinson’s disease. Animal studies show a protective effect of caffeine from deterioration in the brain. [3] Prospective cohort studies show a strong association of people with higher caffeine intakes and a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. [9]

Caffeine has a similar action to the medication theophylline, which is sometimes prescribed to treat asthma. They both relax the smooth muscles of the lungs and open up bronchial tubes, which can improve breathing. The optimal amount of caffeine needs more study, but the trials reviewed revealed that even a lower caffeine dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight showed benefit over a placebo. [10] Caffeine has also been used to treat breathing difficulties in premature infants. [3]

Caffeine stimulates the release of a stress hormone called epinephrine, which causes liver and muscle tissue to release its stored glucose into the bloodstream, temporarily raising blood glucose levels. However, regular caffeine intake is not associated with an increased risk of diabetes . In fact, cohort studies show that regular coffee intake is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes , though the effect may be from the coffee plant compounds rather than caffeine itself, as decaffeinated coffee shows a similar protective effect. [3] Other observational studies suggest that caffeine may protect and preserve the function of beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for secreting insulin. [11]

Signs of Toxicity

Caffeine toxicity has been observed with intakes of 1.2 grams or more in one dose. Consuming 10-14 grams at one time is believed to be fatal. Caffeine intake up to 10 grams has caused convulsions and vomiting, but recovery is possible in about 6 hours. Side effects at lower doses of 1 gram include restlessness, irritability, nervousness, vomiting, rapid heart rate, and tremors.

Toxicity is generally not seen when drinking caffeinated beverages because a very large amount would need to be taken within a few hours to reach a toxic level (10 gm of caffeine is equal to about 100 cups of brewed coffee). Dangerous blood levels are more often seen with overuse of caffeine pills or tablets. [3]

Did You Know?

Caffeine is not just found in food and beverages but in various medications. It is often added to analgesics (pain relievers) to provide faster and more effective relief from pain and headaches. Headache or migraine pain is accompanied by enlarged inflamed blood vessels; caffeine has the opposite effect of reducing inflammation and narrowing blood vessels, which may relieve the pain.
Caffeine can interact with various medications. It can cause your body to break down a medication too quickly so that it loses its effectiveness. It can cause a dangerously fast heart beat and high blood pressure if taken with other stimulant medications. Sometimes a medication can slow the metabolism of caffeine in the body, which may increase the risk of jitteriness and irritability, especially if one tends to drink several caffeinated drinks throughout the day. If you drink caffeinated beverages daily, talk with your doctor about potential interactions when starting a new medication.

Energy Drinks

Clark I, Landolt HP. Coffee, caffeine, and sleep: A systematic review of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials. Sleep medicine reviews . 2017 Feb 1;31:70-8. *Disclosure: some of HPL’s research has been supported by Novartis Foundation for Medical-Biological Research.
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Military Nutrition Research. Caffeine for the Sustainment of Mental Task Performance: Formulations for Military Operations. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2001. 2, Pharmacology of Caffeine. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223808/
van Dam RM, Hu FB, Willett WC. Coffee, Caffeine, and Health. NEJM . 2020 Jul 23; 383:369-378
Moustakas D, Mezzio M, Rodriguez BR, Constable MA, Mulligan ME, Voura EB. Guarana provides additional stimulation over caffeine alone in the planarian model. PLoS One . 2015 Apr 16;10(4):e0123310.
Drewnowski A, Rehm CD. Sources of caffeine in diets of US children and adults: trends by beverage type and purchase location. Nutrients . 2016 Mar;8(3):154.
Harpaz E, Tamir S, Weinstein A, Weinstein Y. The effect of caffeine on energy balance. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacolog y. 2017 Jan 1;28(1):1-0.
Bu FL, Feng X, Yang XY, Ren J, Cao HJ. Relationship between caffeine intake and infertility: a systematic review of controlled clinical studies. BMC Womens Health . 2020;20(1):125.
Zhang YP, Li WQ, Sun YL, Zhu RT, Wang WJ. Systematic review with meta‐analysis: coffee consumption and the risk of gallstone disease. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics . 2015 Sep;42(6):637-48.
Hong CT, Chan L, Bai CH. The Effect of Caffeine on the Risk and Progression of Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis. Nutrients . 2020 Jun;12(6):1860.
Welsh EJ, Bara A, Barley E, Cates CJ. Caffeine for asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2010;2010(1):CD001112.
Lee S, Min JY, Min KB. Caffeine and Caffeine Metabolites in Relation to Insulin Resistance and Beta Cell Function in US Adults. Nutrients . 2020 Jun;12(6):1783.

Last reviewed July 2020

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The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products.

EdSurge Podcast

‘college for what' high school students want answers before heading to campus, by jeffrey r. young may 14, 2024.

Louis Bustos and Vivian Turbak, two juniors at Central High School, report on their school’s ‘Opportunity Fair’ for a student-run video news program.

This article is part of the guide: Doubting College: A Podcast Series.

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What to Do After High School: 12 Options & How to Decide
1. Imagine your ideal life in the future. You deserve to live a life you love, so take a few minutes to figure out what that looks like. Picture yourself in the future with the perfect job, your dream home and family, and a hobby you enjoy. Use this image to help you decide what path to take going forward. [12]
What To Do After High School: The 2024 Guide
Get fit. Investing time in physical fitness not only contributes to a healthier lifestyle, but can also have positive effects on your mental well-being. After high school, consider joining a gym, taking up a sport, or engaging in outdoor activities.
Life after High School: Setting Goals and Exploring Career Options
Graduating from high school marks a significant milestone in one's life, and it is often accompanied by a sense of excitement and anticipation for the... read full [Essay Sample] for free search Essay Samples
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Mapping Your Future is a national collaborative, public-service, nonprofit organization that provides career, college, financial aid, and financial literacy services to students, families, and schools. Our information and tools help you provide effective service to your students and families, especially as they explore higher education as a ...
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A high school counselor or the IEP team can offer advice on paths to consider after graduation. It's important for young people to find and follow their own interests. Work experience and internships offer a great start to choosing the right path. College isn't the only path to a career after high school for young people with learning ...
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23 Things To Do After High School. Here are 23 things to consider doing after you've graduated from high school. Education and Learning. Continuing your studies after high school is one of the most common options, but college is just one kind of education you can choose from. Four-Year College Degree
What To Do After High School: A Comprehensive Guide
Think of it in terms of agile iteration cycles: Come up with an idea or plan - Choose a theory to test, e.g. "I want to be a software engineer.". Design your "product" - Plan your experiment, e.g. "I'll get an internship or entry-level job at company X and see what it's like to be a software engineer there.".
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This will make it easier for you if you have told yourself, " I don't know what to do after high school," because of financial limitations. It's important to note that scholarships and grants can be highly competitive, so it's important to start your search early and apply to as many as possible. Some scholarships and grants may ...
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The essay 'Life After High School" by Annie Murphy Paul is about the effect of a persons high school experience on what they do later in life. Paul had been asked to be the commencement speaker at her old high schools graduation which made her wonder if our high school experience determines who people become as adults. To see both sides of ...
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Essay writing process. The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay.. For example, if you've been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you'll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay, on the ...
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Every day, caring mentors guide Club members as they identify aspirations, create a post-secondary plan and take steps like completing financial aid applications. Workforce readiness at Boys & Girls Clubs supports kids and teens in thinking big about what's next. In fact, more than two-thirds of 12th grade Club members expect to attend a 4 ...
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Once they do read the prompt, they often find that it answers many of their questions. When you read the assignment prompt, you should do the following: • Look for action verbs. Verbs like analyze, compare, discuss, explain, make an argument, propose a solution, trace, or research can help you understand what you're being asked to do with an
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After graduating high school I finally came to a conclusion of what I wanted to do with my life. My senior year in high school not only did my hopes change multiple times they also changed tremendously. One of the biggest obstacles that I ran into or that I face everyday is my cell phone. My cell phone. 261 Words.
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After high school is going to be a lot of responsibilities I have to take care of. I remember when I was younger I couldn't wait till graduating high school, but then I realized there was way more to come after high school. This is the biggest part of my life right now. I have to decide on what college I want to go to and what do I really ...
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Attending a FASFA or financial aid night or session at your high school. Ask your counselor about details. Contacting the financial aid office at a local community college and asking for help, or. Calling the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-4-FEDAID. Call Mapping Your Future at 1-800-374-4072.
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1. Hook the readers with a relevant fact, quote, or question for the first sentence. An attention getter draws readers into your essay. Use a shocking statistic or a hypothetical question to get the reader thinking on your subject. Make sure not to use an attention getter unrelated to the topic of your essay.
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Plans After High School Essay: Profession arranging is a deep-rooted measure that incorporates finding a new line of work, chipping away at our abilities, discovering our assumptions from life and surprisingly resigning. There may consistently be potential changes in life on the grounds that our long-haul and transient plans may not coordinate.
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31 January 2023. Each year of high school, students can take steps to prepare for what they'll do after graduation. PrepSTEP for High Schools from LearningExpress is a college and career readiness solution that offers tools to help students build core academic skills, explore career options, and prepare for college and military admissions tests.
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High school students have a lot of options for what they can do once the school day ends: they can study, do homework, participate in a sport, watch TV, work at a job, play video games, attend a club meeting and more. Some of these activities are more useful and productive than others, and spending your time after school wisely can help you ...
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Caffeine is absorbed within about 45 minutes after consuming, and peaks in the blood anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. [2] Caffeine in beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda is quickly absorbed in the gut and dissolves in both the body's water and fat molecules. ... and both mother and fetus metabolize caffeine slowly. A high intake of ...
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