Getting from now to next
When you are in high school, it’s normal to focus on the moment and enjoy the experience. Over the last two years students have missed out on so much of the fun stuff in their high school career and they should enjoy what is left of these years to the fullest.
Many students are excited about the future but experience uncertainty about what they really want to do after graduating. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question that has been asked to every student throughout their life.
And we get it, it is hard right now to make a decision that impacts your future. The world has changed over the last two years and during remote learning students were not exposed to the same level of career and future counselling that they would have received before the pandemic. As a result, many students are experiencing anxiety about the future and their post-secondary education and career options.
No one has the answers right now and that’s ok.
High school does end, and students should at least start thinking about what they want their life to look like after they get their diploma. Identifying what interests you, what your personality traits are, what classes you found interesting in high school and what type of lifestyle do you want is a good start. No one needs to have the answers on graduation day, but some general direction can be helpful.
One option to consider is a career in advanced manufacturing. Advanced manufacturing does not sound like a sexy career option, but this could not be further from the truth.
Manufacturing today is a rapidly developing sector, driven by technology and innovation and offers highly skilled and well-paid careers than are not gender specific. We are not talking about manual labour and in many cases tablets and smartphones have replaced large and heavy machinery.
Careers that encompass robotics, the industrial internet of things, virtual reality, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence are just a few of the areas where you can find an exciting and well-paid career.
You can join this exciting field with terrific growth potential and do it here at home. Colleges and universities in each Atlantic province offer a variety of programs that can open the door to a career in advanced manufacturing.
Think you are up for this challenge? Ask the guidance counselor at your school for more information and take our quiz at Forge Ahead Atlantic to see how well you are suited for a career in the dynamic world of advanced manufacturing.
