1. Play Now

2. Goals  Consider your lives in the next four years  Think about what you want your life to be  Think about how what you are doing NOW is helping you achieve it  Consider options we have to help you achieve the life you want

3. Warming Up  Consider each of the statements on your paper.  Select an answer for each one.  You may not know the information, but I need you to make a guess or prediction.  You have about _____ minutes to complete the task.

4. PART I: Why high school?  Only earn about $19,000 annually, which is 27% less than people who earned a diploma.  Tend to have more health problems  More likely to end up in prison  Die earlier  Cost the government, businesses and tax-payers BILLIONS of dollars  Can’t provide a positive future for their own children It’s Not Just About the Money! Most people who drop out of high school:

5. Why people quit  47 % said classes were not interesting  43 % missed too many days to catch up  69 % said they were not motivated to work hard  35 % said they were failing  32 % said they left to get a job

6. PART II: Why college?  Earn an average of $51,554 annually  Have less stress  Are happier with their lives  Able to go on vacations without losing pay  Can provide a safe and healthy environment for their children, and own parents  Live longer  Have more positive impact on their community Most people who graduate from college:

7. PART III: Get started  You CAN start earning college credits, even as early as 10 th grade.  You CAN earn professional licenses while you are here.  You CAN save thousands of dollars and make your diploma worth more.

8. PART III: Get started  You could avoid having to take a foreign language.  You could start working in your profession and earning money sooner.  You could only have to go to school half of the day.

9. PART IV: Figure it out  Examine the career pathways.  Select several possible careers that may seem interesting.  Record on your chart.

10. PART V: CTC  24 programs at the Career and Technology Center  Every career pathway is represented at CTC.  Nearly 700 students every year get a head start on their career and college experiences.  http://ctc.sites.fcps.org/ http://ctc.sites.fcps.org/

11. PART V: CTC Course Guide  Skim through the bold headings of each program.  Look for: Program description Training, internships, license or credits you can earn  Record notes on your sheet.

12. PART V: How CTC?  Sign up to shadow by going to guidance.  Visit CTC during the school day and learn more about two programs.  You are judging the programs, but you are also being evaluated by your enthusiasm, attitude, maturity, interest.  If you are interested in a program, complete application. (application)

13. PART VI: What else?  Question/Comment Record on your sheet.

14. Resources  High school course guide High school course guide  CTC webpage CTC webpage  Credits and licenses Credits and licenses  MD Department of Licensing MD Department of Licensing