Freshmen Advisory January 19, 2016 My Ten Year Plan Freshmen Advisory January 19, 2016

What are my long-term goals? Here we are in high school, all working towards a diploma. But what happens after high school? What does your diploma mean to you? After high school, what do you hope to do with your diploma? Will you enter the work force? Will you attend a community college? Will you attend a four-year university? Will you attend a trade school or enter a certificate program to specialize in a career field? Will you enlist in the military?

What are my long-term goals? Because ten years seems so far away, some people feel creating a ten year plan is futile. Things change. Situations change. People change. How can you make a ten year plan when there are so many fluctuating variables in life? This is, on some level, true. You may think you want to be in one place ten years from today and learn, along the journey, you really want to be somewhere else. That’s okay. On the other hand, you may know exactly where you want to be in ten years, and in order to get there you will need to plan. You don’t become a doctor or lawyer or head of a construction company by simply thinking you want to do that one day. You become successful in your career because you plan ahead and complete certain tasks for getting there, even if you don’t consciously think about this. A ten year plan will help you set goals, define what you hope to accomplish, and give you a path to getting from where you are today to where you want to be in ten years.

Think Career First Then Plan What if you took the time in high school to investigate careers then researched what schools and programs would best meet your goals? We hope to do some career investigation with you as you journey through Fort Bragg High School. In fact, the Career Fair is just a few weeks away! This will be a great time for you to hear from people in specific career fields. Understand that your career goals and long-term plans may change several times before you graduate, but that’s OKAY!!! You are changing every day! As you grow and mature into the young adult you will become after high school, your long-term plans are likely to adjust with you.

My Ten Year Goals Let’s start the conversation today of potential careers you may want to consider after high school. You’ll do different activities in your advisory classes depending on what grade level you are, but let’s get some thoughts on paper and see how you feel in a month, a year, or even three years down the road.

My Ten Year Goals You will be a senior in high school in no time! What are your plans after high school? Have you begun thinking about what happens after you leave FBHS? How do you see yourself in ten years? Take a moment to really think about your future. If you had a magic wand and didn’t have to worry about money or resources, what career would you like to have in ten years?

Career Choice Teachers, please distribute the Ten Year Plan sheet now. Take a look at your Ten Year Plan sheet and check the box of what you hope to do immediately after high school. Remember, these are your thoughts as a freshman. This may change as you progress through high school. Write down a career you think would be your top choice right now. If you’ve NEVER thought about this, start thinking! You’ll be an adult in a few short years. Choose a career for now so you can begin thinking of different opportunities. You may NOT leave this blank!  Explain why this career interests you today. Talk to your neighbor and see if you or your neighbor knows anything about the education, if any, that is required for your career choice.

Your Career Choice Over the next several weeks, your advisory teacher will meet with each of you to help you research the education and/or training required for your career choice. After you meet with your advisory teacher, write down the education or training required for your career choice on your Ten Year Plan sheet.

Ten Year Plan Keep this paper in your advisory folder. We will revisit this over the next few months. Think about your future while you are in high school. If you take advantage of your time at FBHS, you will discover that your Ten Year Plan is truly within reach. Believe it or not, someday you’ll want to be a self-sufficient adult. Planning for your future is always a good investment.

Are you willing to work hard, plan and prepare for your future? Your Ten Year Plan Goals become reality with preparation, planning and hard work. Are you willing to work hard, plan and prepare for your future?