Education

10 SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2024 EDUCATION GUIDE French or Spanish! Learn ONLINE OR IN-PERSON! Register by Sept. 10 for Fall Session ustboniface.ca/educationplus Add flavour to your French learning with the newly-revised A Taste of French program! Planning for the future C hoosing a program to study at a post-secondary institu- tion can be one of the most challenging decisions a young stu- dent will ever have to make. Answering questions like which program is the right one or which institution is the best fit can make for some stressful times for many high school students. A longtime school guidance counsellor has a word of advice for teens who find themselves in such a position: relax. "Some students really beat themselves up and think that they have to have everything done and they need to be going to college or uni- versity right after high school," says Shannon Hall, a guidance counsellor at Tec-Voc High School for the past 14 years and a member of the Manitoba School Counsellors' Associa - tion. "If that's their goal, that's great. But it's real- ly OK to go at your own pace. I always tell kids you don't have to decide right away if you're not sure." One of the best ways for students to minimize the stress that can come with choosing a col- lege or university program is to start planning early. Hall says the best time for students to be- gin planning for a post-secondary future is in Grade 10 or 11. That way they have plenty of time to pick up any prerequisite courses they may need to enrol in whatever college or uni - versity program they decide upon. However, Hall stresses there is no need for young people to panic if they don't get all the prerequisites they need before they graduate from high school. Students can return to their high school following graduation and enrol in up to four classes at no cost to fulfill any pre - requisite requirements they may have. Hall says one of the first things students should do when considering their post-sec- ondary options is to identify what their in- dividual strengths and interests are. While university may be the best choice for some, college or some form of apprenticeship train- ing might be a better fit for those interested in a career in the trades. "It's all about where their interests and strengths are," she says. For students interested in enrolling in a pro- gram that isn't offered close to home, Hall ad- vises those individuals to closely consider how far they are willing to travel before making any kind of decision about their future. She says it's also important for students to consid - er the cost of any post-secondary programs and whether or not they are feasible for them and their family. "Some kids say, 'Yeah, I want to go and do this,' but they have no idea how much it costs," she adds. Another important consideration for stu- dents to think about is what are the employ- ment prospects for any potential future career they may be considering. Hall says a useful tool in that regard is the Graduate Satisfac- tion and Employment Report that Red River College Polytech publishes annually. The re- port details the employment outcomes of the school's graduates and provides some insight into what a person's chances are of obtaining future employment in a chosen field. One of the recommendations Hall makes to many of the students she counsels is to check out the open houses that institutions like Red River, the University of Manitoba and the Uni- versity of Winnipeg offer each year. "Taking advantage of the open houses at the post-secondary institutions in Winnipeg is a great idea," she says. "We take our students each year. We offer U of M, U of W, Red River and we always post when other open houses are just so they have that opportunity to ask questions face-to-face and see first-hand what seems cool to them and find out about things they didn't think were offered at these different post-secondary in- stitutions." Although selecting a post-secondary pro- gram often comes down to individual choice, Hall says students need to understand how they arrive at that decision doesn't have to be a solitary journey. She says most schools have guidance counsellors or career education staff who are happy to help students find the an- swers they may be seeking. "Don't be scared to reach out," she says. "Ask questions, definitely ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask." BY JIM TIMLICK How to reduce the stress of choosing a post-secondary program Shannon Hall, Guidance Counsellor - Tec-Voc High School Although choosing a post-secondary program often comes down to individual choice it doesn't have to be a solitary journey. Taking advantage of the open houses at the post-secondary institutions in Winnipeg is a great idea" — Shannon Hall, guidance counsellor, Tec-Voc High School

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