2. Contents
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Chapter 1 ■ Your Personal Strengths Chapter 2 ■ The Roles You Play Chapter 3 ■ Why We Work Chapter 4 ■ Exploring the Career Clusters Chapter 5 ■ Think Like an Entrepreneur Chapter 6 ■ Skills for Success Chapter 7 ■ Academic Planning Chapter 8 ■ Communicating with Others Chapter 9 ■ Building Relationships Chapter 10 ■ Basic Math Skills Chapter 11 ■ Technology and Your Career Chapter 12 ■ Career Planning Chapter 13 ■ Managing a Job Search Chapter 14 ■ Getting Started in Your Career
Chapter 15 ■ Being Productive in Your Career Chapter 16 ■ Living a Healthy and Balanced Life Chapter 17 ■ Starting Your Own Business Chapter 18 ■ Planning Your Own Business Chapter 19 ■ Managing Your Business Chapter 20 ■ Personal Money Management Chapter 21 ■ Personal Financial Planning Chapter 22 ■ Basic Economics Chapter 23 ■ Basic Business Financial Management Chapter 24 ■ Financial Calculations for Business

3. Recognizing the Value of School
Studies show that people who stay in school have higher self-esteem, better physical health, and a more positive attitude.
School also provides an opportunity to prepare for a career.
If you drop out, a company will likely pay you about 35 percent less than if you had graduated.
Education teaches you skills and information you need to get and keep a job.
Core school subjects are vital for the career search process. They help you gain knowledge and build skills you will need to succeed at work.
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4. Analyzing Your Learning Style
A learning style is a way of taking in information so that you remember it and can use it in a practical way.
Each learning style has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Visual learners take in information best when they see it.
Auditory learners take in information best when they hear it.
Tactile learners learn best by touching things.
To do well in school, use study strategies to improve you ability to remember new things.
When you know your learning style, you can pick study strategies that works for you.
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5. Developing an Academic Plan
A personal academic plan is a document that you use to set goals for the things you want to accomplish while you are in school.
A personal academic plan can help you make sure you graduate from high school, take advantage of opportunities to develop your skills and abilities while you are in school, and help prepare you for life after graduation.
At a very basic level, a personal academic plan will help you keep track of your progress toward achieving your school’s graduation requirements.
At a higher level, a personal academic plan can help you identify areas of opportunity in school and out.
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6. Creating an Academic Plan and Setting Goals
Your teachers and school counselor can help you develop an academic plan.
Most personal academic plans include career-related planning and skills, academic preparation and planning, school and community involvement, and plans and goals for after high school.
Start your academic plan with your long-term ultimate goal. The goal should be specific and should include career, education, and lifestyle goals.
Add short-term goals that define how you will gain the skills, knowledge, and experience that you need to achieve your ultimate goal.
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7. Developing Career-Related Skills in School
Attending school helps you develop the basic skills you need to succeed in a career.
Basic math skills are vital for success in careers ranging from nursing to inventory control.
You might benefit from a business math class if you are interested in a career in business.
You will need advanced math skills for a career in technology, business, engineering, or science.
Almost every employer wants workers who can read, write, and speak effectively.
As you move into higher grades, you may take electives, which allow you to explore new subjects .
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8. Taking Advanced Classes and Learning Beyond High School
If you have ability in a subject, you might choose to take advanced-level courses that challenge you to work harder and learn more.
Some advanced courses have the added benefit of letting you earn college credit while you are still in high school.
After you receive your high school diploma, you may enroll in college to continue your education, or earn a professional degree.
Many careers require a minimum of an associate’s degree—two years after high school—and many require a bachelor’s degree—four years post high school.
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9. Planning for Postsecondary Education
If a high school diploma is not enough to land you the career of your choice, you will want to think about postsecondary education.
You can find information about different postsecondary opportunities online, in your school guidance center, and at the library.
There are more than 3,500 colleges in the U.S., ranging from technical colleges that award certification for a specific job or career, to universities that grant bachelors’ and graduate degrees.
To gain admission to, you must fill out a college application.
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10. Applying to and Paying for College
In addition to the college application, you will also need:
An official transcript of your grades
An official score report that provides the results of the standard college entrance exams
Recommendations from your teachers and counselor
Financial aid forms that detail your ability to pay
Postsecondary education is expensive. To pay for college, note that:
It is never too late to start saving, and no amount is too small.
Most schools offer financial aid to qualified students.
Schools and other organizations offer scholarships to qualified students.
You can take out a loan from a bank.
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11. Identifying Career-Related Opportunities for Students
Gaining job experience is an important part of developing an academic plan.
Experience gives you the opportunity to learn about a career first-hand.
It also gives you the opportunity to build a work history that you can include on job and school applications.
An internship is a temporary job that may or may not pay a salary, but provides you with the opportunity to work in a field that interests you and builds your skills.
You meet people who might act as references—people who will provide a recommendation for you when you apply for jobs or school in the future.
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12. Volunteering
Volunteering is an opportunity to gain career-related experience, meet people who work in a field that interests you, and do something you can put on job and college applications.
Volunteers are unpaid workers. Many volunteer positions are in service organizations, such as homeless shelters, health clinics, animal shelters, and food pantries.
In addition to part-time jobs, internships, and volunteering, other ways to gain valuable career-related experience include mentoring programs, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and participating in school clubs and organizations.
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13. Chapter Review
People who stay in school have higher self-esteem, better physical health, and a more positive attitude.
A personal academic plan is a document that you use to set goals for the things you want to accomplish while you are in school.
After you receive your high school diploma, you may enroll in college to continue your education, or earn a professional degree.
An internship is a temporary job that may or may not pay a salary, but provides you with the opportunity to work in a field that interests you and builds your skills.
Volunteering is an opportunity to gain career-related experience, meet people who work in a field that interests you, and do something you can put on job and college applications.
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