Deciding on a future profession can be a scary process

By Xavier Lloyd News Reporter

What profession do you want to pursue in the future? Whether or not you’re a senior in high school, the question of what profession you want to pursue has lingered inside you, no matter how much you push it away. 

Deciding on the right profession for you can be a scary process. Photo courtesy of 80000hours.org

For some, knowing what they want to do can be exciting, and for others, having no clue what they want to pursue after high school can be dreadful. Either way, it is still a significant thought that can be conjured up in our heads for a while.

There are so many different jobs that are available to people with degrees, associate degrees, and even people without degrees. There has been a study that asks, how many people actually need a four-year diploma? (2024, January 30). Higher Ed Dive. Only 42 percent of jobs in the upcoming years will require a college degree. Although this is still a lot that also opens up many jobs for people who will not need a degree. 

Either way, this still opens up many job opportunities for everyone. Things like this can be stressful, and it’s normal; 50 percent of all students after high school reported it as a stressful time, yet most of those students find ways to make it work later in life. Now, it’s just how students can prepare themselves for the future of a professional career. 

The majority of students in school already have a lot of things on their plates. So finding and getting a job, even if it’s just a part-time job, can be challenging with their schedule. So, to prepare for the future, it is better to start doing things that make you better at managing your time. 

“Creating a realistic schedule, communicating with employees, and prioritizing self-care to avoid burnout,” Amy Mojica said.

“Students should plan their time well to handle schoolwork and other activities they plan on pursuing,” senior Xzallen Lloyd added.

According to Staff, C. (2025, March 25). Extracurricular activities give you a better shot in the workforce, help you find a job, and show the person who is going to employ you that you are hardworking and determined to do what you want to do. With a multitude of different things to do after or before school, this can potentially set you up for future success when it comes to jobs in the future or whatever profession you would like to pursue.

“Extracurriculars and volunteering help students develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills, which are valuable in any career,” said senior Jaiden Carter.

“School teaches the basics, but real-world experience is also important,” Lloyd said.

Many students have this same mindset, and it isn’t just students; many people think this way, leading people to think about what they can do to get this experience.

“Internships and apprenticeships offer hands-on experience, help students build a network, and often lead to full-time job opportunities. They also provide valuable industry insights,” Jaiden Carter said.

This can be a very helpful way to get the hands-on experience that people look for when it comes to job finding. It can be very stressful to figure out how you want to go about your professional career, but there can be different opportunities for each person; you just have to figure out what’s best for you. 

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