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Home Illness & Disability Becoming independent Planning for the future tips: For younger girls

Planning for the future

There are many different ways to keep learning. You can:

• Take classes at a community college even if you do not plan to go for a full degree.
• Go to a four-year college close to home and live with your parents, or live at a college further away.
• Choose a two-year college or a four-year one.
• Take classes or full programs on-line.
• Take part in vocational training, which includes classes to teach you how to work a certain job or trade. Vocational training can teach you about many different things, such as computer programs or how to be a dental assistant.

If you are younger than 14, here are some helpful steps for planning for your future:

• Think about classroom subjects and careers that interest you. Then talk with your school counselor about the skills and training you will need to go after your interests. You can look into more than one!
• Ask your counselor to help you find books on college programs and careers, as well as college and career fairs that you can go to. Talk with your family and people in your community about jobs and topics that interest you.
• Talk with your school counselor, parents/guardians, and doctor about your strengths and weaknesses. These are the things you are good at and the things you need to practice. Then make some early choices with your counselor and parents/guardians about what might be the best path for you – more school or work, or both? Check out the box to the right to learn about different types of school choices.
• Get some experience. Volunteer to do chores around the house or for a neighbor to learn about responsibility. You can also ask to "job shadow," which is watching someone while they do a job that interests you.

Content last updated June 2, 2007

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