Sections
The bullet-point items below represent the key points of focus for this page. Scroll down to see the information under each section. Please know - this website is for you and your future, and it's not just for high-school students! You may access this site at any point in the future as needed. Enjoy!
- A Note About Money
- Careers
- College
- Americorps
- Ohio Means Jobs
- Skilled Trades
- Military Options
- Self-Employment/Entrepreneurship
First, a note about money!
One of the most important things that you can do is to save money rather than accruing debt! Toward that end, I have included the two buttons below. The first is an interview with a young man who made the goal of saving a million dollars by the time he was 30 and achieved it. The second is the website that he created to help others do the same thing. Both buttons are well worth your time.
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Credit Card Debt and Compounded Interest
A lot of young people begin life with crippling debts. The worst kind of debt is credit card debt. So that you can understand how it works, I have included a link to a simulation so that you can play input figures.
Here's a hint on paying your debts: pay off the smallest debt first. Do this by paying more than the monthly minimum payment. When you finish, roll that payment into the next smallest debt, and so on until all debts are paid in full.
A lot of young people begin life with crippling debts. The worst kind of debt is credit card debt. So that you can understand how it works, I have included a link to a simulation so that you can play input figures.
Here's a hint on paying your debts: pay off the smallest debt first. Do this by paying more than the monthly minimum payment. When you finish, roll that payment into the next smallest debt, and so on until all debts are paid in full.
Investing: Make your money work for you!
The vast majority of us are not able to begin doing this until they have become a little more established - meaning you have enough income that there is some leftover after paying bills and living expenses. However, there are some tools that only require small monthly contributions (which can be increased over time) that you can begin as soon as you turn 18. Beginning the habit of investing is a very wise choice! The earlier you begin, the more that you will make over time!
Below are some links to websites that will help you understand the kinds of tools available to begin saving and investing.
The United States government wants you to know about investing!
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent regulatory agency under the executive branch of the federal government. It functions as an authoritative overseer of financial activity conducted by major banking institutions. It also serves to inform and educate the population about finance and investment issues. Click on the link below for a great primer on financial planning and investment strategies.
The vast majority of us are not able to begin doing this until they have become a little more established - meaning you have enough income that there is some leftover after paying bills and living expenses. However, there are some tools that only require small monthly contributions (which can be increased over time) that you can begin as soon as you turn 18. Beginning the habit of investing is a very wise choice! The earlier you begin, the more that you will make over time!
Below are some links to websites that will help you understand the kinds of tools available to begin saving and investing.
- Savings Accounts - earn the least over time, but are more easily accessed
- Compound Interest Calculator (This will help you understand what your investments will do over time if you don't take the money out and continue to invest every month.)
- IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) - slow, steady growth that accelerates over time; not accessible without a big penalty until retirement age; one of the most important kinds of investing!
- Click here for a fuller list of similar accounts for investing not necessarily related to retirement.
- Stock Market - potential for fast growth, but with varying levels of risk (it is possible to loose money if you don't know what you're doing)
- Mutual Funds - a safer approach to investing in stocks
The United States government wants you to know about investing!
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent regulatory agency under the executive branch of the federal government. It functions as an authoritative overseer of financial activity conducted by major banking institutions. It also serves to inform and educate the population about finance and investment issues. Click on the link below for a great primer on financial planning and investment strategies.
The rest of this page is meant for you as a resource as you consider options beyond the walls of high school. It includes college planning, general career information, and resources for non-college professions. Explore as you feel inclined!
Research Different Careers!
Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics)
The link below offers a comprehensive exploration of careers that will be of enormous help as you explore and make decisions about what you wish to do for a career. Spend some time here, as it is updated every year by the United States government and reflects the general trends of employment. On it you will find such things as...
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Off to College?
March 2 Success
This is a free service offered by the United States Army that includes several features that can help students or even high school graduates who are interested in going to college. Check out the ACT/SAT test prep feature to help you maximize your scores, or the STEM courses to help refresh some of the knowledge that may have slipped in your memory over time. To access, just click the link below, explore the options, then register to access the materials for free. |
Magoosh - ACT/SAT Prep
This website has several released exams, study schedules, video lessons, and other resources. Success on the ACT or SAT is like any other test: it takes study and familiarity to do well. This website, like March 2 Success above, is designed to help you achieve the best possible score and increase the likelihood that you will not only gain admission into the college of your choice, but receive scholarships as well.
This website has several released exams, study schedules, video lessons, and other resources. Success on the ACT or SAT is like any other test: it takes study and familiarity to do well. This website, like March 2 Success above, is designed to help you achieve the best possible score and increase the likelihood that you will not only gain admission into the college of your choice, but receive scholarships as well.
Career Index (Education News)
The link below will allow you to search for careers by state and specific schools. If you have an idea of what you would like to study or be (anything from the skilled trades to being a physicist) this site will help you to locate programs anywhere in the United States. Just click on the menu items until you find what you are searching for. This is an excellent website for searching both colleges and careers.
The link below will allow you to search for careers by state and specific schools. If you have an idea of what you would like to study or be (anything from the skilled trades to being a physicist) this site will help you to locate programs anywhere in the United States. Just click on the menu items until you find what you are searching for. This is an excellent website for searching both colleges and careers.
Can I Afford This School?
Tip: Finding Tuition and Fees Information
If you want to know how much college will cost without having to negotiate complicated website, pull up a Bing search engine, and then enter the name of the college plus "tuition and fees" (e.g. Miami University tuition and fees). The information will show up on the results page in a box.
Also, I have included a tuition-tracker website link that will help you to compare college costs. You might be surprised at the affordability of some institutions versus others!
If you want to know how much college will cost without having to negotiate complicated website, pull up a Bing search engine, and then enter the name of the college plus "tuition and fees" (e.g. Miami University tuition and fees). The information will show up on the results page in a box.
Also, I have included a tuition-tracker website link that will help you to compare college costs. You might be surprised at the affordability of some institutions versus others!
Can I Afford School Out of State?
First, a note on private vs. public schools...
Private colleges and universities are owned and operated by private organizations. Therefore, the cost of tuition is an accurate reflection of what you education actually costs. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state. As a benefit to citizens of that state, tuition is heavily subsidized. This is referred to as "in-state" tuition. Therefore, it is always cheaper to attend a public school as a citizen of that state. Note: If you are a non-state citizen, the state will not subsidize your tuition. This is called paying "out-of-state" tuition.
So if you are living in Ohio and wish to attend an out of state school, you will want to find out if we have a reciprocity agreement with that state and its public schools. Reciprocity agreements are agreements between states that allow citizens to attend schools for in-state tuition prices. These agreements are limited to states that border Ohio. Click on the link below to see Ohio's current reciprocity agreements.
Private colleges and universities are owned and operated by private organizations. Therefore, the cost of tuition is an accurate reflection of what you education actually costs. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state. As a benefit to citizens of that state, tuition is heavily subsidized. This is referred to as "in-state" tuition. Therefore, it is always cheaper to attend a public school as a citizen of that state. Note: If you are a non-state citizen, the state will not subsidize your tuition. This is called paying "out-of-state" tuition.
So if you are living in Ohio and wish to attend an out of state school, you will want to find out if we have a reciprocity agreement with that state and its public schools. Reciprocity agreements are agreements between states that allow citizens to attend schools for in-state tuition prices. These agreements are limited to states that border Ohio. Click on the link below to see Ohio's current reciprocity agreements.
Can I Get Into This School?
A great resource for finding an answer to this question is prepscholar.com. Simply type in the name of the college you wish to reseach with the word "prepscholar" in a Google search and click the first link that appears!
(E.g. Wright State University Prepscholar)
You will find information on GPA requirements as well as ACT/SAT score targets for the typical school.
(E.g. Wright State University Prepscholar)
You will find information on GPA requirements as well as ACT/SAT score targets for the typical school.
AMERICORPS
Americorps is a way to serve your country in a non-military capacity. Similarly to the military, it is organized, funded, and run by the United States Government in order to give citizens opportunities to serve the country for an extended period of time. You can serve for up to two years with the following benefits:
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The three links below will summarize what Americorps NCCC is all about. Whereas anyone can join Americorps regardless of age, NCCC is reserved for members between the ages of 18 and 26. Americorps State and National is for members of any age who wish to serve. The way that this program works is through partnering with state-based or nationally-based non-profit groups (e.g. Habitat for Humanity). Americorps provides the workforce/member volunteers and their compensation, and the non-profit trains them and puts them to work.
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My Own Experience in Americorps
I was nearing the end of my fourth year of college with one more to go before graduation. I was feeling burned out and in need of a change. Though nearly everyone advised against it, I decided to pause my education for a year and do something non-academic. I just wanted to work with my hands and do something substantive for once. I initially thought about the Peace Corps, but found out that there were barriers that made my entry into that program unlikely. That's when a university career counselor told me about Americorps.
Late that summer, I jumped in my 1985 Ford Bronco II loaded up with all the necessities needed to live on my own for a year, and road-tripped from St. Cloud, MN to Charlotte, NC. I had applied for and was accepted into Americorps State and National working with Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte. I knew nothing about construction, but I was willing and eager to serve. That year, I learned more than one skill. I learned the hard skill of basic home construction. Just as important were the soft skills I learned:
My time in Americorps served as a direct path to the classroom. As of the time of this writing, I have been teaching for 18 years. Leading others during those busy Saturdays got into my blood! I loved the feeling of inspiring people with new experiences and empowering them to learn something new. I loved seeing their perspectives expand when the learned they could accomplish hard things they had never before tried. These were skills and experiences that paved my way into this profession! Beyond that, I feel good that I was able to give two years of my life in service to others. As I consider the generations of Americorps workers that have served their country, I cannot even begin to fathom how their experiences may have changed the lives of others while shaping them as citizens. What will Americorps do for you?
I was nearing the end of my fourth year of college with one more to go before graduation. I was feeling burned out and in need of a change. Though nearly everyone advised against it, I decided to pause my education for a year and do something non-academic. I just wanted to work with my hands and do something substantive for once. I initially thought about the Peace Corps, but found out that there were barriers that made my entry into that program unlikely. That's when a university career counselor told me about Americorps.
Late that summer, I jumped in my 1985 Ford Bronco II loaded up with all the necessities needed to live on my own for a year, and road-tripped from St. Cloud, MN to Charlotte, NC. I had applied for and was accepted into Americorps State and National working with Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte. I knew nothing about construction, but I was willing and eager to serve. That year, I learned more than one skill. I learned the hard skill of basic home construction. Just as important were the soft skills I learned:
- Leadership: I was placed in charge of volunteer construction crews that came in every Saturday to serve their community. Most of them needed to learn some basic construction skills and looked to me for guidance and oversight.
- Financial Management: though Americorps provides a basic living stipend, it is by no means of blank check for spending on anything I wanted! I quickly learned the importance of budgeting!
- Social Engagement and Conflict Resolution: I lived in an apartment suite on the second story of the office headquarters with four other guys and three girls. Our interactions were constant and sustained: eating together, working together, playing together.
- Patience and Longsuffering: Each member has to complete 1,700 hours of service before their term is complete. Just as there were times that were awesome and I was so grateful to be there, there were also times when the mornings were wet, cold, and rainy when it would have felt so good to stay inside and watch movies with drinking hot chocolate. Difficulties had to be overcome, discomfort endured, hardships tolerated. This is life in Americorps!
My time in Americorps served as a direct path to the classroom. As of the time of this writing, I have been teaching for 18 years. Leading others during those busy Saturdays got into my blood! I loved the feeling of inspiring people with new experiences and empowering them to learn something new. I loved seeing their perspectives expand when the learned they could accomplish hard things they had never before tried. These were skills and experiences that paved my way into this profession! Beyond that, I feel good that I was able to give two years of my life in service to others. As I consider the generations of Americorps workers that have served their country, I cannot even begin to fathom how their experiences may have changed the lives of others while shaping them as citizens. What will Americorps do for you?
Ohio Means Jobs
The links below are from the Ohio Means Jobs website, created by the Ohio State Government. It is designed for students, veterans, and people who are between jobs or new to the job search.
Not sure what you want to do for a career? Create a career profile with the link below. You will be asked some key questions, and based upon your answers, suggestions will be provided for you to explore. Then use the links above to explore them fully.
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The Skilled Trades!
The link below offers a directory of trade schools relative to the industry in which you are interested. The nearest school for the trades is Butler Tech. However, there are other options available as well.
"For the last three years, according to ManpowerGroup, the hardest segment of the workforce for employers to staff with skilled talent hasn’t been registered nurses or engineers or even web developers. It’s been the skilled trades – the welders, electricians, machinists, etc. that are so prevalent in manufacturing and construction.But if these skilled-trades workers are difficult to find now, as Manpower MAN +0.52%’s survey indicates, just wait a few years. The skills gap is likely to become more acute." - Joshua Wright, Forbes Magazine |
This means that the demand for skilled labor is going to increase dramatically, and with it, the potential wages earned by those who seek such work. (If you wish to read the entire article, click here.)
You can also view the individual unions below to look for local apprenticeship opportunities.
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Click below to learn more on the importance of apprenticeship programs, and their growing role in today's economy...
Below you will find a website that links you to a podcast by Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs) who is a fierce advocate of skilled labor careers. If you are wondering about some of the opportunities that are out there, check it out!
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SKILLED LABOR PROFESSIONS!!!
Click the link below...
Click the link below...
LOCAL UNION SHOPS
Electrical Unions
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Sheet Metal Unions
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Plumber/Pipefitter Unions
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Steel Workers Union
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I had the opportunity to speak with Sergeant First Class Benjamin Osborne, a recruiter for the United States Army, about the options available to students interested in starting life with military service. What I learned is that the military is opening as many avenues toward training, certification, and formal college education as possible so that those concluding their time in the service to the country will have a jump on securing a living as a civilian. Before I get into those details, however, I have outlined some different routes that you can take if you are interested in military life.
- Active Duty - Length of commitment varies depending on the military branch
- Reserves - Typically includes basic and advanced training, monthly drills, extended summer duties, but not active duty
- National Guard - Similar to reserves, though the state typically has control, unless the president chooses to nationalize or mobilize (see the link below to find out more about the differences between the Reserves and the National Guard)
- ROTC - On college campuses across the nation, this option allows students to attend college while also training during summer months. Upon completion, students become active duty with a direct route toward becoming an officer.
What's the difference between Reserves and National Guard?
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Example of Education Benefits
In my conversation with SFC Osborne, I learned of several opportunities for young people who want to pursue a career in the United States Army. Something I did not know is that a motivated active duty soldier can earn up to 3 years of college education while serving through a variety of opportunities and programs. For example, service members are eligible for $4,000* in tuition assistance per year to take courses (typically online), and this is over and above the Montgomery GI Bill which offers $59,000* for tuition (plus assistance for both housing and books).
* Current as of May 2018
There are other options for education and training as well depending on which of the four paths to military service you choose (active duty through ROTC).
Click on the links below to learn more about the options offered by the United State Army, or click on the links above to find out what other military branches offer.
In my conversation with SFC Osborne, I learned of several opportunities for young people who want to pursue a career in the United States Army. Something I did not know is that a motivated active duty soldier can earn up to 3 years of college education while serving through a variety of opportunities and programs. For example, service members are eligible for $4,000* in tuition assistance per year to take courses (typically online), and this is over and above the Montgomery GI Bill which offers $59,000* for tuition (plus assistance for both housing and books).
* Current as of May 2018
There are other options for education and training as well depending on which of the four paths to military service you choose (active duty through ROTC).
Click on the links below to learn more about the options offered by the United State Army, or click on the links above to find out what other military branches offer.
Education Benefits
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Salary
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Healthcare & Vacation
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* Special to SFC Benjamin Osborne for taking the time to explain the ins and outs of Army salary and benefits.
UNIT BREAKDOWN OF THE U.S. ARMY
Since the breakdown of the army is a mystery to many people, I have included the chart below to help you to understand how it is organized and commanded. Below that you will find two info-graphics to help you understand the command structures (ranks) of each of the armed forces of the United States.
Since the breakdown of the army is a mystery to many people, I have included the chart below to help you to understand how it is organized and commanded. Below that you will find two info-graphics to help you understand the command structures (ranks) of each of the armed forces of the United States.
Enlisted Ranks of the United States Military
Officer Ranks of the Unites States Military
Self-Employment/Entrepreneurship
Want to go into business on your own? Check out the following links to help you determine whether it is the right choice for you. Also included are links to help you begin that process as well as links to organizations that might lend a hand. Enjoy!
Hamilton Mill
Want to be a part of the Hamilton Renaissance? The City of Hamilton has created a business cultivation group called "The Mill" which specializes in cultivating small business in Hamilton and the surrounding region. Folks gain access to expertise, marketing
Want to be a part of the Hamilton Renaissance? The City of Hamilton has created a business cultivation group called "The Mill" which specializes in cultivating small business in Hamilton and the surrounding region. Folks gain access to expertise, marketing