News & Information

At Achieve Twin Cities, we know what it takes to help students discover their interests, build confidence and prepare for life after high school. And it starts well before they choose a college, career or pathway.

In this three-part series, we’ve been looking at the role all of us—families, educators, employers and community partners—can play in helping students discover who they are, build meaningful connections and develop the skills they need for whatever comes next. 

Part 3: Preparing Students for More Than a Career

Career readiness isn't only about knowing what job you want. It's also about developing the skills to navigate whatever comes next.

These skills include managing time, setting goals, making decisions, solving problems, communicating with others and adapting when plans change. They're skills students can learn, practice and strengthen, and each day offers a chance to do just that

These skills are sometimes called "soft skills," but they are anything but secondary. They can shape how effectively a young person navigates school, work, relationships and the unexpected challenges that come with each. Employers are also increasingly looking for these skills in the people they hire, which makes them essential to learn early. 

Skills Grow Through Practice

Students don't develop these abilities by simply being told that they're important. They develop them by using them.That might mean:

• Taking responsibility for a project
• Setting a goal and working toward it
• Learning from a mistake
• Managing competing priorities
• Working with people who have different perspectives
• Making a decision and reflecting on the outcome

Parents, educators and community partners can help by giving students opportunities to practice these skills and by allowing them to take appropriate ownership of their decisions.

The Goal is Adaptability

A student's plans may change. Interests evolve. New opportunities emerge. The career they imagine today may not be the career they pursue years from now.

That's why preparing students for the future is about more than helping them select a destination. It's about helping them develop the self-awareness, relationships and skills to navigate the journey. When students understand themselves, have people they can rely on and know how to take action, they're better prepared for whatever comes after high school.

Did you miss part of this series? Here are the first two articles:

• Part 1: Before Students Choose a Career, Help Them Discover Their “Why”
• Part 2: The Power of Community in a Student's Future Planning