1. Halfway Through Where are You?

2. Agenda Barriers to Success Problem Solving Advocating for Yourself Managing Your Time The Future: Careers and Colleges Setting Goals Resources

3. Barriers to Success Poor Time Management Lack of Responsibility Peer Group Difficulties in Personal Life Lack of Resilience Poor Coping Skills Poor Self-Advocacy Skills

5. How to Solve Problems Identify the problem. Brainstorm the options to correct it. Evaluate the pros/cons of the options. Make a plan of action. Evaluate & Modify your plan until you reach your goal.

6. Examples of Problems My class is too hard. My friend and I aren’t getting along and I don’t know what to do. My coach won’t give me any playing time. My friends want me to give them answers on a test. I don’t know what to do with my life.

7. Self-Advocacy Self-Advocacy is the ability to communicate your needs at the appropriate time and place.

8. Self-Advocacy Skills Understand your needs. Express your needs appropriately. Take an active role in situations that involve your education and your life. Communicate with key people (parents, teachers, coaches, staff members, employers). Know your strengths/weaknesses.

9. Appropriate or Inappropriate? Having your parents e-mail your teachers to let them know you need make-up work.... INAPPROPRIATE

10. Versus Asking your teachers for make- up work when you have been absent.... APPROPRIATE

11. Appropriate or Inappropriate? Writing in a college essay that you didn’t do well in a class because you had a bad teacher... INAPPROPRIATE

12. Versus Writing in a college essay that you had difficulty with a certain class and that you had to work hard to adjust and do the best that you could given the situation.... APPROPRIATE

13. Appropriate or Inappropriate? Asking your teacher to write you a letter of recommendation for a college application 3 weeks in advance.... APPROPRIATE

14. Versus Telling your teacher you need a letter of recommendation for college…tomorrow... INAPPROPRIATE

15. Managing Your Time Know what tasks need to be done and when. Make a “To-Do” list. Prioritize these tasks. Estimate how much time it will take to accomplish everything. Work at the time and place that suits you best. Know when to ask for help.

16. Remember this picture? Do you like feeling like this?

17. Manage your time Use your agenda! OR find a system that works for you!

18. Looking Ahead "A vision is a clearly articulated, results-oriented picture of a future you intend to create...it's a dream with a direction!" ~Jesse S. Zemel

19. http://www.burrellesluce.com/freshideas/wp- content/uploads/2010/01/SMART_Goals.jpg http://www.burrellesluce.com/freshideas/wp- content/uploads/2010/01/SMART_Goals.jpg http://www.kippoint.co.uk/content/images/misc/coachinggo als.gif

20. A look into the future... What kind of career do you want someday? What kind of education will you need for that career? Where will you go when you finish high school? **You will be turning in college applications in 1 ½ years!

21. Setting Goals for the Future What is your long-term goal? Have a successful career. Be accepted to a college. Win a scholarship. Earn an apprenticeship. Be accepted into the military.

22. Managing Long-Term Goals What short-terms goals will help you meet your long-term goals? Studying more to improve grades and increase chances of college acceptance. Taking courses in high school to improve knowledge/skills for a career. Finishing diploma requirements to gain acceptance into the military.

23. Where to go for help... The pieces of the puzzle Teachers, Counselors, Parents Career Center, Virginia Wizard Family Connection, Bridges College Board for SAT prep

24. Electronic Resources Family Connection: From the Battlefield homepage under “For Students” Bridges: www.bridges.com SiteID=0100347Password=bridges

25. Closing Activity: Pair and Share Flowchart Activity – What in the world should I do with my life? Pair up and go through flowchart with your partner. Use “No’s” as guidelines for discussing your next step in the career exploration process. Provide feedback to the overall group.