Choosing Your Classes

It's hard to know what you want to do next week, let alone what you'll be doing 5, 10 or 20 years from now! But you can think about your interests and try to achieve a balance between the things you have to study and the things you want to study.

The Basics

If you're thinking about college, check the Web sites for schools you might be interested in. Some colleges are more competitive than others, and their requirements will be more difficult. As a general rule, most schools require coursework in English, math and science, as well as study of a foreign language. You'll be expected to meet the school's minimum grade point average. You'll also need to score well on one of two tests, the ACT or the SAT, and you'll need to write a relatively short essay telling them about yourself and your plans. Again, if you have a pretty good grasp on the basics — English, math and science — you should be able to make it through without a problem.

If you're more interested in a trade or technical school, or a community college, check the Web sites for the schools that interest you to see what their requirements are. Generally, you will need to have your high school diploma or GED. You'll still need a good balance of the basics — English, math and science — under your belt to get you started.

Extra Credit

Overall, as you can see, a good general education is important in terms of your future. But that doesn't mean there's no room for the things you love. If you're interested in art or music, don't be afraid to load up on those classes as electives — they'll provide valuable skills you'll use far into your adult life. Take newspaper or Web design classes, drama or video production. Don't be afraid to explore.

If you're considering a career that would involve travel, study the language spoken in the areas you're interested in. Spanish is a highly practical language to study in terms of international business, but so are Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Arabic. Even if you don't plan to travel, you might be interested in becoming a translator — because the U.S. is an important center for global issues of all sorts, translators can find jobs at Texas state agencies or at federal organizations like the United Nations, the FBI and the CIA.

But don't forget that English is the primary language used in business all over the world — so pay attention in your English classes. Even in the age of e-mail and text messaging, good spelling and grammar are important in the business world! Sad but true: You'll find you have trouble getting ahead if you haven't mastered the basics of the English language.

Ask for Help

Feeling confused? If you have ideas about what you want to do but aren't sure about the best way to get there, talk to your school's guidance counselor. Your guidance counselor has the experience to help you get what you want out of your education — provided you have some idea what that is. But remember — this is ultimately your education. It's up to you to make the most of it!

Magnet Schools

If, on the other hand, you're really convinced you want to pursue a certain path — say, dancing, graphic arts, or environmental science — you might want to consider attending one of Texas' magnet schools. These public schools can provide special coursework in your area of interest — but be warned, competition for entrance is very steep, so if you've been slacking off in school, you might be out of luck!

Predicting the Future

Last but not least, keep in mind that many of the careers of the future don't even exist yet — so getting a good, well-rounded education will prepare you for anything you might want to do later in life. Sure, there are days when school might seem like a drag — it's normal to feel that way. But on those days, try to think of the benefits that will come your way if you hang in there — who knows what great things await?