2. High School Success: 9th Grade Career/College Unit Developing a Meaningful Plan for High School and Beyond Module Four

3. Developing a Meaningful Plan for High School and Beyond What does it take? (Brainstorm)

4. Components of a Meaningful Plan for High School and Beyond Informed DECISION-MAKING Well-planned COURSE SELECTION Valuable EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Meaningful SERVICE LEARNING/VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES Relevant PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT Effective TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES (SAT/ACT/ASVAB) Achievable POST-SECONDARY GOALS

5. Informed Decision-Making Be sure you have ALL THE INFORMATION related to your options CAREFULLY CONSIDER the positive and negative outcomes of each option MAKE your decision, keeping your GOALS and VALUES in mind. Determine your OPTIONS List the POSITIVE and NEGATIVE OUTCOMES of each option Determine your OPTIONS

6. Take the MOST RIGOROUS courses in which you can be SUCCESSFUL Take MORE than the HIGH SCHOOL GRAD and the COLLEGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS Take courses RELATED to a CAREER INTEREST COMMUNICATE your GOALS and INTERESTS to your COUNSELOR Well-Planned Course Selection

7. Valuable Extra-Curricular Activities IDENTIFY athletic, cultural, community or other philanthropic organizations that have meaning or value to you PERSONALLY LEARN about the GOALS of the organization/s to make sure they are goals that are important to YOU as well Be sure you can COMMIT the TIME and ENERGY the organization seeks While ENGAGED in the extra-curricular activities, be aware of related CAREERS that may be of interest to you

8. Meaningful Service-Learning and Volunteer Experiences Familiarize yourself with the district SERVICE LEARNING MANUAL Identify COURSE TOPICS of special interest to you Think of a NEED in school or the community that relates to that course topic Ask your TEACHERS or SL COACH for suggestions or approval Maintain your SERVICE LEARNING LOG

9. Relevant Part-time Employment Think of a CAREER that you may be interested in pursuing BRAINSTORM companies and jobs that may be RELATED to that career CONTACT those companies and let them know you are interested in working with them CONTACT the CAREER CENTER, FAMILY, FRIENDS for suggestions

10. Effective Test-Taking Strategies (SAT/ACT/ASVAB) BE AWARE of testing DATES and registration DEADLINES GO to www.collegeboard.com for SATs GO to www.act.org for ACT GO to www.military.com for ASVAB SET goals for test scores DETERMINE and KEEP a study/practice schedule

11. Achievable Post-Secondary Goals Know program, GPA, ACT/SAT/ASVAB and other entrance requirements for post-secondary options available to you. Monitor COURSES, GRADES, TEST SCORES and EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES on a regular basis to make sure you are on track toward your goals Adjust GOALS accordingly