How VHS Learning Helps Students Explore Career Pathways
As students enter high school, they begin to set more tangible goals and priorities for their futures. High schools have a crucial role during this time, helping guide students towards potential post-secondary education and career options.
In a recent eSchool News article, VHS Learning’s President and CEO Carol DeFuria presented a practical and effective solution for high schools to help students discover and explore career pathways: online learning.
Expanding Course Offerings to Empower Career Exploration
When students are thinking about possible career pathways, they must consider both their interests and strengths to choose a job that will be personally rewarding for them. In order to do this, students need access to educational opportunities that enable them to explore and try out a variety of different disciplines.
Students can’t aspire to work in a career field they’re unfamiliar with, so it’s important that high schools expose students to a variety of career pathways. Through specialized and advanced courses, schools can empower students to find a career option that appeals to them.
However, many high schools don’t have the funding or resources to offer a broad spectrum of career-related courses on their own. Fortunately, a supplemental online learning provider can help schools expand their course offerings to give students hands-on experience in a wide range of career fields. Partnering with an online learning provider like VHS Learning instantly multiplies schools’ course catalogs, helping to expose students to a richer variety of career opportunities.
Why High School is the Best Time for Career Exploration
High school students are mature enough to have a practical outlook on their futures, yet they are still at a phase in life where they are open to new things. Taking career-related courses in high school is a great way for learners to discover new interests, learn new skills, and expand their perspectives.
In addition, high school is a safe and practical space for students to test out different skills and disciplines, helping them to narrow down their career options. By exploring various career opportunities in high school, students can figure out what they like––and what they don’t like.
If students wait until college to explore career options, they risk wasting valuable time and money pursuing majors or career pathways that aren’t a good fit. By exploring career options in high school, students can make more informed choices about attending college or other post-secondary educational pathways.
How VHS Learning Helps Students Explore Career Pathways
For nearly 30 years, VHS Learning has been an accredited nonprofit provider of supplemental online high school courses. Students who take VHS Learning courses through their local high school gain access to over 250 courses––including 29 AP® courses––across a variety of disciplines, including computer science and cybersecurity, business and marketing, health and medicine, and world languages. Our high-quality online courses provide students with practical, hands-on experience in career fields by completing authentic, real-world tasks and projects.
By providing ample opportunities to explore a variety of career pathways, high schools can support students’ journeys far beyond graduation. Online learning can help schools connect students with careers that truly engage and inspire them. Read Carol’s article in eSchool News to learn more about how Online learning in high school helps students explore career pathways.
