Advice For High Schoolers
I recently did a career talk with 60 high school sophomores and their questions prompted me to make a blog of advice for high schoolers.
Usually I speak to elementary school students so it was really interesting to hear the questions from high schoolers. My 40 minute presentation on Ms. Erin’s 3 E’s was a talk on how their education and experiences will help them on their entrepreneurial journey.
They had questions about what I should do right now to prepare? What kind of person should I be to get hired? How do I get a job?
So I summarized my advice for high schoolers to 3 things they should do now:
Education: Learn as much as you can! Take advantage of the privilege of your education now and soak up everything you can. Pay attention to what subjects you like and naturally thrive in and the ones you don’t like and struggle with. Ask your teachers and counselors for help and guidance while you’re with them!
2. Experience: Try new things! If you can work part time, start! If not, volunteer in your church or community. Offer to do more chores around the house and ask your parents if they will entrust you with higher level responsibilities. Join clubs at school or a sports team to have more opportunities to work together with others. Some things you figure out through experiences only.
3. Entrepreneurship - Find out what your God-given gifts, talents, and interests are. By definition entrepreneurs are the owners of the business who take risks. Start by being the owner of your own life and take risks. As you take risks showing love to others, you will learn about your own life and what you value, what your goals are, and what you’re naturally good at and enjoy.
With all of the above, build your resume!
Add your education, work experience, volunteer work, club and sports involvement, values, goals, skills, and interests to your resume. You may think someone may not want to see this, but we are wondering if you have experience working together with a team to achieve a common goal. We want to know what your goals are to see if it’s a win-win fit. We want to know if you have skills that our business might not have that we are seeking. Even the chores you list that you do around the house, will give insight into what you are capable of. Businesses need to be cleaned and organized just like a home!
Finally, find two references who can vouch for you. Whether it’s a teacher or a coach or a pastor, find two adults that can speak on your behalf. And if you don’t have anyone, well it’s time to start building some relationships with people you look up to.
Ok get to it!
And a special mahalo to HBA and Tara Gruspe for the opportunity again. So wonderful to hear your short responses to our short time together. Good luck!
erin’s tip
Share this with someone in high school or who has a kid in high school. They have the advantage of time on their side.
