Your next steps
Everybody is asking you, "what are you going to do after high school?" What do you tell them? You can tell them that you are on your way to a better future. Here are some of things you need to be doing:
Stay in school - you can't go to college, and technical school, or the military without completing high school. That's step one.
Take hard classes - every study says that the great indicator of success in college is how rigorous your high school classes were. Take algebra, then take calculus. Take two, or three years of a foreign language. Sign up for the honors classes. You'll have to work harder, but the classes will be more interesting.
Start thinking about your future. Where do you want to be in 5 years, in ten years . . . big city or small town? Do you want to be living in your own house, or an apartment? Do you like to work outside, or at a desk. There are no wrong answers. Its up to you. But, you do need to ask the questions and have answers.
Start to build a team of people who can help you along the way. Talk with adults that you respect. What got them to where they are now? What decisions did they make?
Plan to take the ACT and SAT tests. Take them in your junior year of high school. If you like your score - great! If not, take them again in your senior year. Check with your Project Discovery coordinator about test fee waivers.
Join Project Discovery. You'll get lots of help and good advise. And you'll be with a group of kids who all have plans and goals for a better future.