Those of us who have been out of school for years understand how important it is to choose the right career path. The path you choose after high school will define your future. And word to the wise, you shouldn’t focus on money alone but also consider your desired lifestyle. How do you want to live once you are completely done with school and working full time? Think about your passions, stress tolerance, career longevity, and personal finances before either choosing a college major or applying for an apprenticeship. 

Some majors may lead to high salaries but also come with demanding schedules and little to no personal time. Anyone in healthcare knows what it’s like to work nights, weekends, holidays and extremely long hours – sometimes 12 hours or more. Yet doctors and nurses are always in demand. If you aren’t skilled at managing stress, you shouldn’t apply to become an attorney, a police officer, or air traffic controller. 

If you are passionate about art, find a career that would allow you to use your creativity but also provide a stable living. Graphic designers have a high rate of unemployment yet job opportunities for AI artists are increasing every day. School systems may still be hiring art teachers, but the jobs are few and far between and the competition is fierce. 

Keep in mind, there are many terrific career options available that don’t require higher education and have a lower rate of unemployment compared to fields where degrees are a must. For now, your priority is to do some soul searching to figure out what you want out of life. Once you know that, choosing the right career path will be easy.