So, you’re 17 years old embarking on your senior year of highschool with vague ideas about your future. Or maybe you’re a junior and getting a head start on graduation planning. Or you’ve been out of school a few years, and you’re still figuring it out. Your family, teachers, or maybe even your friends are asking what your plans are – but all of the above scenarios are OK. Most of us don’t graduate with our lives planned and actually follow those plans for the next fifty years. There are a few lucky unicorns out there who discover a passion for medicine at 12, manage to get a scholarship to Harvard for medical school, practice medicine for 40 years, and retire happy millionaires. But that describes less than 1% of the population. Most of us have some ideas about what interests us, a few ideas about what we DON’T like, and a lot of outside pressure to get it all figured out.
Here’s the thing, I honestly know exactly one woman I went to highschool with who knew what she wanted to be doing for her career in 20 years and is actually making a living doing that, but even her path to getting there was not what she had envisioned. My own journey has had at least 20 twists and turns, and I’m still not done figuring out what I want to be when I grow up or exactly how I’m going to get there, but I’m closer than I was 10 years ago.
The decisions you are trying to make right now seem BIG, and they are important, but they are also flexible. Some of us who go to college end up working in careers that match our majors, but a lot of us don’t. Some of us who didn’t go to college found happy careers and are thriving. Just as many change their minds during the process of growing a career and do end up going to college. So, while these are significant decisions, they are also fluid decisions. Just because you make this decision today does not mean you will be stuck with that decision 20 years from now. As long as you’re mindful about the financial impact of your decisions, there is no reason to treat this decision as any more life altering than where you want to vacation or whether to adopt a pet. Actually, the pet might be the more life altering decision, but that’s a story for another day.
Should you go to college or start a career? The Bible doesn’t tell us anything about whether starting a career or going to college immediately out of highschool is the right choice. The Bible does tell us to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17), that the Holy Spirit is our guide (John 16:13), and that anything we do we should do for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). Jesus had a carpentry occupation before taking up His earthly ministry, so we certainly have an example for how God’s plan for us can change over time. The apostle Paul also continued his trade of making tents while doing his missionary work, showing that sometimes our paid work and our calling aren’t exactly the same thing. College or career can prepare you for your vocation and your calling – whether or not they happen to be the same thing. And remember, no matter how old you are, you are making a decision that will impact what you do for a while, not really your whole life. Your goal should be that it will be a beneficial part of your growth process for who you will eventually become but not a defining factor. Dig into the word of God, pray, and do your research, so you can make a decision that will bring God glory in the coming years.
Going to College
Choosing to go to college can have a lot of benefits. College will teach you how to handle supervisors (professors) with differing expectations. College will give you experiences with public speaking, writing, and other critical thinking skills. You will learn how to meet deadlines and work with teams of others to complete projects. It can also equip you with the technical skills needed to do specific jobs. Furthermore, it can provide necessary qualifications and licensure needed to do some jobs, such as engineering and nursing. But you may be wondering – of all the colleges and programs out there, what is right for me?
- Universities
These are a popular choice for people who want to study academic disciplines such as history, psychology, or the sciences. If you are interested in undertaking a four (more!) year passion project in a field of interest that doesn’t lead to a specific career but could be a benefit to many careers, this is not a bad plan. You may become so passionate that you want to become a researcher in the field, though most people with these academic discipline majors will usually end up employed in fields that are loosely related or completely unrelated to their degree. Many of these majors will also go on to graduate school in professional or research-focused disciplines. If you have your heart set on a career like engineering, teaching, or accounting, then a four year degree is a must have.
Sidebar: Professional disciplines are those that lead to a specific career, usually requiring licensing or certification (i.e. nursing, law, teaching, etc.) and academic or research disciplines are not related to specific career fields but can have a wider application.
Real life stories:
Celeste Schuler, age 35, is a writer living in the Pacific Northwest. She always knew she would attend college after high school and credits that to the influence of her mother. Celeste received a Bachelor of Arts in English and then later graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Always wanting to be a writer and teacher, she taught creative writing at a rural Oklahoma community college and now teaches workshops in local libraries. She has been published in various journals and anthologies, and her first full-length poetry collection is forthcoming in 2026 from ELJ Editions. She would tell her younger self that, “you’re going to be so surprised at your strength and tenacity!”
Sue is a 57 year old elementary teacher in Michigan. She was the first person in her family to attend college, and her dad could not have been prouder of her when she completed her degree in business administration. She chose to go to college because it’s what most people she knew were doing, so it made sense. She grew up moving around a lot, so, in some ways, this was just another move. She was ready for independence and loved playing on her school’s softball team. After graduation, she started out as a high school business teacher, but she took time off when she had her first baby. She says she would make that choice again in a heartbeat. Going back to work now that her kids are grown has been a little challenging though. The business world has changed too much for her to step back into that role, so she switched gears and re-certified in elementary education. She loves the kids, but the adults she’s worked with have been something of a challenge, despite her having positive work evaluations. She’s working on finding a position with a team where she feels valued.
- Community/Technical College
These schools can be absolute gems and are usually underrated. They can be attended for the purpose of learning a skill or trade and obtaining licensure, or they can allow you to take courses you will need at university in a smaller, more convenient environment and usually for less expensive tuition than a university. Most of these schools will offer associate degrees in academic disciplines that transfer well to the university or can help fill out your resume. They also offer a wide range of technical degrees and certifications in many high demand professions such as healthcare/allied health, business, agriculture, mechanics, technology, hospitality, and skilled trades (plumbing, electrical, etc.). These schools generally offer smaller class sizes and more personalized support than universities.
Real life stories:
Lisa (name changed) is a 40 year old homeschool mom living in Kentucky. She enrolled in her local community college about a year after her high school graduation. Her mother was ill at the time, and she wanted to spend as much time with her as possible, so she deferred her education. This is a choice she says she’s very glad she made. When her mother passed, Lisa wanted to start a career, so she began college to study nursing. She quickly learned nursing was not for her and switched to business classes. She told me she enjoyed her time in college because she loved learning and still does. When she began her degree program, she had also just started an entry-level job at an insurance company. When she completed her associates degree in business, she was able to move into an insurance contract planloader position making more money with better hours. When her second child was born, she decided to become a stay home mom. While she does feel that the community college and business were good decisions for her, she also wishes she had continued on to complete her bachelor degree. In her recent job searches, she has found that most jobs require a bachelor degree. She feels if she had a bachelor degree, she would have an easier time getting back into the workforce. If she could talk to her younger self, she would tell her to “never stop just because you’re at a comfy place in your life. Keep pushing for yourself and your future.”
Natalie Kalsic, age 36, is a stay home mom in Kentucky. After high school, she took a gap year to figure out what she wanted to do with her career. She wanted a profession where she could help others and make a difference, but she wasn’t sure what that was going to be just yet. She spent a year working as a nanny to gain experience for future motherhood and to get some things figured out. She was interested in medicine, but the price tag on medical school was just too high for her liking. She ended up deciding to become a paramedic because the associate degree offered at her local technical college would be almost completely covered by financial aid, and she would get to do meaningful work. She has fond memories of her time in school where she got to learn to do rescues with the fire department, cut up cars when needed, and ride in the ambulance to observe and practice clinical skills with supervision. Through her ten years of dedication to this profession, she saw life begin and end before her eyes, she helped talk people off of literal and figurative ledges, and quite honestly saved a lot of lives. However, when COVID hit things changed immeasurably, and she began to feel the sting of burnout. At this point, she made the decision to step away from her career to focus on her children. She said she would absolutely make the decision to become a paramedic all over again, and she would like to go back to the profession in some capacity, either as an instructor or an administrator. The advice she would give to herself at 18 would be to follow her instincts because she knew what was best for her. It’s important to stand up for yourself regardless of whether it makes people like you.
Starting your Career
There are several jobs out there for high school graduates that can qualify as embarking on a career. Whether you’re looking to start off small and work your way up or you need to be able to support yourself right away, there’s plenty of things you can do to make that happen. These are a few ideas to get you started.
- Entry-level jobs to build experience
These are jobs that may not pay enough to move out of mom and dad’s house or get rid of your roommates, but they can be a great stepping stone to higher paying positions once you have experience. Restaurant or retail workers can eventually become restaurant or retail managers (who can earn 63k and 52k per year* respectively) when they work hard and take their jobs seriously. Childcare assistants may not make much to begin with (around 30k*), but they can get a lot of on-the-job training and experience that can lead to a career as preschool teacher (37k*) or a daycare manager (54k*). Customer service jobs can easily lead to promotions to supervisors and trainers. There are plenty of ways to start at the bottom and work your way up if you’re committed. Many of these also include paid training opportunities that can advance your career in the industry.
Real life story:
Jenny (name changed) is a 39 year old legal clerk. She originally started off at a community college in her hometown, but she soon found that full time employment was a better fit for her life and took a job as a receptionist at a family law office. Over the years, she and her husband moved a few times, and she sought work as a legal secretary. In order to move her career forward, she went back to school to obtain a paralegal certification and was awarded a full-time internship with a family law attorney. She is now back in her hometown where she works as a legal clerk at the district attorney’s office. She loves her work now and wouldn’t change the way her career has worked out. Her biggest words of wisdom for a younger version of herself would be to be patient with herself and be more present in where she was in life at that time – and also to learn the value of cooking and nutrition!
- Apprenticeships
Lots of skilled trades workers such as plumbers, electricians, and carpenters have apprenticeship programs where you work under a master of the craft to learn the trade. Even careers you might not imagine could be apprenticeships fall into this category such as being an optician (someone who makes and repairs glasses). Apprenticeships are paid programs to gain training and experience and lead to lucrative careers. Considering the average salary for a plumber in the United States is around $60k*, this isn’t a bad deal. You can find local and country-wide apprenticeship opportunities at this website: www.apprenticeship.gov
- Jobs that pay the bills right away
Maybe you’re in a position where you need enough to live on sooner rather than later. These jobs can often include some pretty difficult labor and may not offer much advancement, but they will pay the bills, which might be just what you need right now. Some of these jobs may also include paid training programs that can lead the way to career advancement. Jobs in this category would include construction laborers and utilities meter readers who earn close to 45k per year with no more than a high school diploma.* Flight attendant is also an attractive career in this category earning a median salary of $68k* per year.
Real life story:
Yolanda (name changed) is a 60 year old county coordinator for the Child Evangelism Federation in her area of New Jersey. Yolanda grew up in the Dominican Republic and graduated high school early at 15. Her family then emigrated to Puerto Rico, where she had to take exams to earn her United States high school diploma. Soon after that, her sister married, moved to New Jersey, and became pregnant. Yolanda moved to New Jersey to help her sister. She spoke no English to be able to get a job, so she walked to the local library and checked out books to help her learn. After nine months of hard work, she learned enough to be hired by the local hospital as a medical records specialist. She had to go through a sixth month training process and pass a test to keep the job. She worked in this job for a few years before transferring to work in a local high school in their family planning clinic. She said this was an unfortunate decision because the work was not in line with her spiritual values. At this point, she chose to enroll in college and pursue a different career path. She would tell her younger self, “It was all worth it – Todo valio la pena.”
Joining the armed services is a great way to do something meaningful with your life and start a career. There are a number of occupational specialties that can earn an up to 50k bonus and plenty that can lead to intrinsic rewards. Whether you choose to make a 20+ year career out of the military or sign on for a minimum contract of 3-4 years, the armed forces offers a lot of benefits, such as job training, college tuition, housing, and healthcare. The military isn’t just for body builders either. Most members of the armed forces are just average physically, but they do make time for their health.
Real life story:
Alyssa Emberton is a 30 year old intelligence analyst living in Texas. She enlisted in the Army when she was 20 years old and served for six and a half years. She originally started college, but she kept changing her major and couldn’t make a decision about what she wanted to do. She took a couple criminal justice classes and enjoyed them. This helped her decide she wanted a federal job and decided the Army would give her that. She became an all source analyst after basic training and was stationed in Hawaii and Italy. She worked her way into the noncommissioned officer ranks. During her time in the Army, she met her husband. When she got pregnant, they decided it was best for her to get out of the Army and transition to civilian work. Thanks to her training and connections from the military, she was able to find work as an intelligence analyst as a Department of Defense contractor. She now works from home in a career she enjoys with no student loan debt thanks to the military. She says her time in the military was more than worth it because she got to travel the world, meet amazing people (including her husband), and build a career. She also has the option to continue her education with the GI Bill if she chooses to. The advice she would give her younger self would be to become financially educated as early as possible and start saving and investing money and also to say yes to every opportunity to learn something new.
Gap Year
So…..you still aren’t sure whether college or career is for you? That’s ok! A gap year is taking an intentional year off to figure things out and gain some life experience. In fact, gap years aren’t just for recent grads! Sometimes you might take a year off after starting your career if you feel like you need a change or to make some decisions. Gap years are common in Europe, but they are becoming more common in the United States as well. There are gap year ideas for every kind of person and their budget. A couple of the women in the real life stories mentioned above took intentional gap years for differing reasons, but both were beneficial to their careers and overall growth.
- Volunteering
Most of us have a cause we are passionate about. Taking a year off to devote yourself to that cause can give you something to eventually put on a resume and an experience that you will look back on with fondness. Maybe you’ll volunteer at your local homeless shelter or work with animals. The Red Cross, hospitals, museums, schools, and nursing homes are always looking for volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to use your time while you think about what you want out of life.
- Adventurous jobs
Maybe you’re an expert in hiking and love local history. There are plenty of areas that hire tourism guides to help out short-term. You could spend a few months guiding groups of sight-seers through an Alaskan forest or educating kids about the ecology of island environments. For college grads, teaching English overseas can be a pretty adventurous way to spend a year or two.
Americorp is a program supported by the government and other financiers that involves participants in part-time or full-time public service work with nonprofit and public agencies. Participants can work in disaster relief, conservation, education, public health and more. Members receive a modest living allowance and can be eligible for educational awards or help paying student loans. Americorp looks great on a resume is a great way to explore interests without committing to anything. Americorp has opportunities for anyone 18 and older, with or without a college degree.
- Mission trips
Spending a year teaching others about Jesus and helping their community is definitely a good use of one’s time. What you learn on an endeavor of this nature could be more valuable than any formal education and give you insight on how you want to spend your life. Mission opportunities abound both domestically and in foreign countries, especially in South America, Africa, and southeast Asia. Check out www.simusa.org for mission opportunities.
- Travel
If you have a little more money to spend on a gap year, then leisure travel is definitely a good investment. Popular destinations include Europe where you can see how the beginnings of western civilization took place. You could also learn Spanish in Mexico or go hiking in the Himalayas. A visit to the Holy Land in Israel would be a good investment in your spiritual life.You’d come home from any of these adventures with a lot of fresh perspectives and much more knowledge of the world God created.
Real life story:
Tia Hagerman, 47, from Indiana is a high school history teacher for a christian school. She took time off in college to go to Colorado to become a kids’ ski instructor. She spent plenty of time on the slopes having a great time and nurturing kiddos. She learned to speak Spanish by being paired with the Spanish-speaking kids. She jokes that it’s an interesting skill to be able to teach people to ski in Spanish! Life ran away with her a little bit, and she didn’t end up returning to college at the time. She wasn’t really sure whether she wanted to be a teacher or a nurse and ended up becoming a mom before she made up her mind. She ended up going back to school later on to become a teacher. She says if she could have a talk with her younger self, she’d tell her to get back to school and finish her teaching degree. She also said she’d tell herself that sometimes things God calls us to do can be terrifying, but He is with us in every moment of our growth. Trust Him with every aspect of your life.
* Information on salaries and job requirements was obtained from the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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