College & Career Training in Alaska

It’s your senior year in high school and all your friends are talking about what they are going to do next.  Some of them will be attending college or trade schools right after high school; however, you may feel that you’re not quite ready to do that just yet. 

So, if you are not college or trade school bound after high school, what will you do? Are there any other options out there for you besides working in a low-wage job?

Below are four options that you might be interested in exploring: 

Volunteer – Find a cause that you really care about and give back in the biggest way possible. AmeriCorps places thousands of young adults into intensive service positions where they learn valuable work skills, and develop an appreciation for citizenship – the best part: you also earn funds to use towards college or career training. Learn more at: www.nationalservice.gov

Military – Joining the military is a big commitment but can be a great way to learn more about yourself and gain career training in the process. The skills you learn in the military can help build a career in the civilian world, plus you’ll have earned some cash for college.  Click here to learn more about today’s military.

Start a Business – If you have an idea to sell, now may be a good time to give entrepreneurship a shot. Regardless of success, starting a business can help you discover more about yourself and gain education in business and grit. Click here to learn more about starting a business.

Travel the World – Traveling gives you an entirely new perspective and exposure to new cultures. Visit places you’ve only read about, eat food you don’t recognize, and make friends with people you otherwise wouldn’t have met. Just make sure you have a purpose, a plan and a target completion date – and keep your long-term career goals in mind.  One way to travel economically is to participate in a structured volunteer program.  While these programs are not usually free, often they provide lodging and food for the volunteer service you perform.  Here are just some of the exciting volunteer travel opportunities that are out there:

• Grassrootsvolunteering.org
• Habitat.org
• Helpstay.com
• Diverbo.com
• Volunteerlatinamerica.com

Any of the options listed above would assist you in learning more about yourself and provide you with experiences and skills that could help you decide on your long-term career plans. Go forth and explore - once you have gained some experience and insight, you might then decide to go to college or attend a career-training program to expand on the knowledge you have already gained.