Are you also among those high-schoolers who are stuck doomscrolling through Instagram? In the process, it's natural to have questions like, “How will this help pay me rent someday?”
Well, if you're asking such a question, you're in good company. Many students like you feel equally clueless as to what their colleges or future careers should look like.
It may all feel like a giant, confusing maze, but the good news is that you need not wait until graduation to figure it out. In a recent survey, Deloitte discovered that 94% of young people find on-site learning to be the best tool in career growth.
This just offers the glimpse that the process of discovery and experimentation is never in vain. Good thing you can start already! Exploring different careers early can also help you prepare for college applications and understand how to present your interests and experiences effectively. This article will share three weirdly smart ways high school students can explore their dream career even now.
Turn Pop Culture Into a Career Lab
If you're still using pop culture to scroll and quote memes, you're doing it wrong. It is a laboratory for career experiments hidden in plain sight. Every viral song or reel consists of clues regarding what makes people buy and care.
Let's just assume that you're into superhero movies. Don't spend your time merely watching explosions. Go ahead and notice how the storylines shape the audience’s emotions and how production teams bring imagination to life. That's where storytelling, design, and psychology get rolled into one powerful package.
On the same nerve, consider someone interested in medical dramas or true-crime podcasts. On the surface, it may appear that all they're into is suspense and fast-paced storytelling. However, this may even point towards a deeper curiosity for human-centered care and crisis management.
Get shocked if you will, but that's exactly how many students discover they’re drawn to healthcare careers long before college even begins. Take nursing as an example. If you find yourself curious about this profession, you can research early into traditional career paths like a Bachelor's in Nursing (BSN).
In the process, you may discover something even more interesting. Some colleges offer accelerated BSN programs for students who wish to dive into nursing after exploring other fields.
It's possible to complete such courses between 12 and 18 months. As Keypath Education shares, that's less than half the time required for a traditional nursing degree. Yes, you're not this far yet, but knowing such options exist can turn early interests into meaningful career paths.
The next time you watch your favorite show, try these instead:
- Question the types of characters and what you find most interesting about each role.
- Notice the characters’ most evident skills, be it leadership, creativity, or communication.
- Try finding out at least one career path that connects with these interests.
Interview People You Normally Wouldn't
Most students can bring to mind a few typical names when it comes to enquiring about career prospects. These include one’s parents, teachers, or career counselors. Yawn. This list is great if you want generic answers that everyone seems to receive.
Now, in case you want to make a weirdly smart move, go after people you’d never expect to. A secret career goldmine may consist of:
- Startup interns
- Lab technicians
- Community organizers
- Even a cousin of yours who may be working in an unconventional field
Early career exploration in this manner is not only fun but also strategically clever. A recent study discovered that Gen-Z students crave comprehensive career exploration during their middle and high school years.
In the study, as many as 69% of high school students and 66% of graduates desired career exploration opportunities during schooling. To hop onto this trend, it's best to seek answers that are raw and unfiltered.
This isn't about settling for “You need good grades” advice. Interviewing unexpected people may land you with interesting insights like, “I wish someone had told me how important interpersonal skills are before college.” You could discover insider information on what different career paths look like on a day-to-day basis. You can also use AI research tools to explore unfamiliar career fields, compare professions, and find reliable information before making decisions. That's when you’ve struck gold!
Treat this like a mini adventure. Curate a list of unconventional professionals you wish to contact. Prepare a few out-of-the-box questions and see what surprises pop up. They could include something like, “Which college courses do you secretly love but never thought would matter?” Buckle up since the answers can make you think, laugh, and even rethink your career ideas.
Hack Your Hobbies for Skills
Did you also fall for the trap that your hobbies are just for fun? Well, says who? The weirdly smart move would be to understand that the stuff you already love doing holds the secret to your life’s vocation.
Firstly, hobbies do have powerful benefits for the brain. A study conducted across 16 countries on individuals over 65 years found that those with hobbies reported fewer symptoms of depression. If that’s the effect on seniors, just imagine the benefits for the younger demographics!
So, it's calming and a gateway to your life’s purpose. How cool is that? Start by understanding your favorite hobbies. The possibilities are endless. If you're interested in technology, exploring artificial intelligence can also introduce you to emerging career paths and skills that may become valuable in the future. You may enjoy:
- Cooking/baking
- Gardening
- Playing or composing music
- Gaming or coding
- Binge-watching science videos
All of these (and more) can be turned into mini experiments that make college and career prep feel more like play than work. If you love drawing or graphic design, go a step beyond doodling by creating infographics or visual guides on topics of interest.
The same goes for coding enthusiasts, who can build a small game or app that solves silly problems. Even something as weird as testing productivity hacks can bring out skills that become useful in life.
The reason this is smart is that it involves demonstrating creativity and problem-solving skills. These are the qualities that mentors and future employers tend to notice. Students interested in business can also explore how AI is changing different industries and creating new opportunities for future professionals. See, high school doesn't have to be boring at all. This is your ticket to career-prepping that is disguised as fun.
There's no time to waste! Your dream career is not hiding in some faraway college brochure. It's in those little moments and activities that you shrug off daily.
Start putting the tips we discussed into practice. Amid all of it, let curiosity be your guide and lead you by the hand. Your future self will thank you, and probably high-five you too.
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