Hi everyone, I am Liam. We are about to embark on one of the most exciting journeys of your life: planning your first year after high school. This is not just about picking a school or a job; it is about building a life that actually fits who you are. Whether you are looking at apprenticeship training, college, university, community living, or heading straight into the workplace, you need a blueprint.I am Maya. The first step is selecting and organizing information about yourself. Think about what you have learned over the last four years. Which fields of study or areas of work most closely reflect your values, skills, and interests? For example, if you value creativity and have skills in digital design, you might look at a college program in media. If you value stability and enjoy working with your hands, a skilled trade might be your path. Why does a specific field feel right to you? Is it because it matches your strengths, or does it lead to an aspiration you have had for years?I am Chloe. When you explore these education and career options, you need a set of criteria to judge them. Think of these as your must haves versus your nice to haves. For a job or a community activity, what is a need versus a want? For some, a high salary and job security are absolute must haves. For others, a healthy work environment, safety, and alignment with corporate values are the top priorities. You also need to consider the location and the specific type of work you will be doing every day. How do you differentiate between them? Ask yourself: Could I be happy in this role if the salary was lower but the job satisfaction was higher? This helps you see what truly matters.And I am Noah. Once you have your criteria, you can use ranking tools to see which path wins. You might compare a university program that offers a great career path against a workplace internship that offers immediate security. Which one meets your highest ranked preferences? But remember, your first year is about more than just your main goal. In addition to starting on your career path, what else do you hope to learn? Maybe you want to pursue a new interest like cooking, photography, or joining a local community group. These personal goals are just as important as your professional ones because they help you stay balanced and motivated.We also have to be honest about the implications of these goals. Every choice you make for your first postsecondary year will affect other aspects of your life. If you choose to move across the country for university, how does that affect your budget and your relationships? If you choose an intensive apprenticeship, how will that affect your free time and your physical energy? Understanding these ripples allows you to refine your goals so they are realistic and sustainable. You are the CEO of this plan, and the more detail you add now, the smoother your transition will be.So, as you start organizing your information, keep asking yourself: Does this path suit my specific interests? Does it honor my values? Does it use my strengths? And most importantly, does it lead toward my aspirations? Your first year is a foundation. By choosing the path that reflects your true self, you are making sure that foundation is solid. Take the time to rank your criteria and be clear about your needs. You are building your future, and it starts with this plan.We have covered how to match your strengths to your path and how to distinguish between needs and wants. In the next section, we will look at the specific strategies you need to actually reach these goals. For now, focus on your self reflection. Be honest about what you want your daily life to look like next year. Your aspirations are the fuel for this entire process, so keep them at the center of everything you do. We believe in your ability to find the perfect fit.Think about the field you are most interested in right now. Can you list three skills you have that make you a good fit for it? And what is one must have that you will never compromise on? Answering these questions today makes the big decisions tomorrow much easier. You are doing the hard work of self discovery, and it is going to pay off in a big way. We will see you in the next video where we turn these goals into a concrete roadmap for success.
