Warm Up  Picture yourself 20 years in the future  Relax and Daydream and think of the following…  Where do you live?  Are you married? Children?  How much money are you making?  Do you take vacations?  What kind of car do you drive?  Do you travel with your job?  What level of education do you have?  What is your favorite part of your job?

Careers What do you want to be when you grow up?

Getting your dream job…  If you want your “dream job” the preparation for that has already started.  What are you doing today to get yourself ready for that job?  You need to make sure that your goals and decisions are putting you in the right position to get that dream job.

But what if you don’t know…  If you aren’t sure what you want to do, realize that you are not alone.  Not every student has picked their career yet.  Even those who think they know now may change their mind later.  But not knowing what you want to do DOES NOT mean you don’t need to plan.  You are still preparing yourself everyday for that future.  So consider this…

Without school where might you be?   Dropouts are more likely than high school graduates to be:   Unemployed   in poor health   living in poverty   single parents   Does this sound like your dream for your future?

Average earnings of year-round, full- time workers age 25 to 34 years old Highest Level of EducationAverage Annual Earnings Less than 9th grade$15,875 9th to 12th grade (no diploma)$20,915 High school graduate$25,655 Some college, no degree$29,310 Associate degree (2yr degree)$31,215 Bachelor’s degree or higher$48,190 *In 2013, a family of four with an income of $23,000 or less will be in poverty. Meaning, they will need government assistance to be able to provide basic needs for their family.

Other career factors to consider… Time Availability CostsRisks

 Some jobs are full time, others are part time.  Some require 40 hours, others more or less  Some are 9am to 5pm, others have flexible hours or other “shifts”  Some require a substantial commute or long periods of time away from home.

Costs  Some careers have more costs associated with them than others.  You may have to cover costs such as tools or clothing, education or training, meals, transportation and parking.  In some careers, having a vehicle is necessary to do the job tasks.

Risks  Some jobs have a high degree of risk related to safety  Others may have a risk involving job stability.

What do you think?  Begin considering this information:  Does this change your ideas about what you are doing now?  Does this change your ideas about what you want to do in the future.  Information is Power – examine your goals, your “big picture” and begin looking for information to help you get there.  Don’t waste any time, don’t make choices by default.