English IV Inquiry Paper 1

Continuing Your Passions

Zack Irminger
English IV
3rd hr
17-December-2015

You should be able to do what you love after high school whatever that may be sports, or
other passions you may have. Trent Hamm posted his personal thoughts and experiences when
making the decision of what to do after high school. He was the first person in his family to have
to opportunity to go to college because of scholarships so that is what he did. He posted five
great tips on what to do after high school. They are dont go straight to college unless you are
absolutely sure of what you want to do, spend time figuring out what you are passionate about
but dont waste time, travel and experience new things, whatever career you choose, dont chase
money, chase passion,learn how to stand on your own two feet and learn exactly who you are
and what youre passionate about,
Dont go straight to college unless you are absolutely sure of what you want to do. You
should have a real goal to why you are going to college. Dont just follow the general advice of
the people around you. You need to have the maturity that you only get one shot at this and that
you want to be there, you want to succeed.
Spend some time figuring out your passions but dont waste time. If you want to take a
year or two off after high school which is a good idea dont waste the time trying to earn tuition
or spending money. Spend the time doing something deeply fulfilling. Find a volunteer or other

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community service organization and get involved big time. Take ahold of a project within it and
push it through to completion or some level of success, it will teach you a lot about people and
leadership.
Work an internship to spend your time doing something you're passionate about even if it
is just photocopying pages or washing dishes. Commit to a large-scale creative project, if you are
musically inclined, write and record an entire album. If youre a writer, write an entire book.
Paint a set of canvases. Whatever it is, if you are passionate about it, do it on a larger scale than
youve ever tried before.
Travel and experience new things, explore new things to follow your passions or go to
find new ones to pursue. Whatever career you choose, dont chase money chase passion. Your
passion for the subject will continually reflect well on you. Think of people you know who are
passionate about what theyre doing almost always, you see them as a success or, at the very
least, the passion is very clear. Learn how to stand on your own two feet and learn exactly who
you are and what youre passionate about. Do this actively, and with commitment. When youve
got that figured out, the college decisions and what to do when you get there will become far
more clear and youll end up with a happier life over the long haul.
Former college professor Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. stated that a generation or two ago
high school graduates rarely went onto college, yet somehow through the years, college has
almost become a rite of passage for teens to pass into adulthood and a good career. But teens do
not need to attend college to become adults and they certainly do not need to attend to land a
good career.
Education is critical, college is not. There are numerous careers in healthcare, technology,
operations, transportation, and the building trades that do not require a four year degree. And as

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you advance in these careers, there is also nothing from stopping you from pursuing a college
degree at a later age when it better suits you, some people are just not ready for college until a
little later in life.
A great way to ease into college and explore more about who you are and what you want
to do is life is taking one or more classes at your local community college. Classes are cheaper
and admission is much easier and many students work at least part time to pay their way. You can
either take a few classes, follow a diploma or certificate track, or advance colleges, so that if you
decide college is right for you, you can then transfer those credits.
Macalester College stated that their are a lot of challenges that students and their parents
face. There is the stress of making a good adjustment because students believe their future
depends upon their doing well. Did they make the right choice? How can they be sure? Should
they change courses, direction, major? Putting choices into a longer-term perspective is useful.
There are many people on campus that can assist them in making decisions: professors, peers,
and College staff. Some students will be homesick, missing their family, friends, and pets. They
will miss old routines and structures.Students may be ambivalent about dependence and
independence. Some will openly ask for parent support and others wont tell parents important
details. Parents need to ask their adolescent how they are doing without prying too much while
also being accessible and open.
The school may not live up to the expectations set by the brochures and admissions
counselors. Rarely does an admissions pamphlet tell all about the ins and outs, and the limits and
shortcomings of a place. The work is hard and some students may experience their first low
grades. Most students have done well in high school. Some high school courses are not as
demanding as college. A student has to learn a particular professors expectations and style of

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grading. Students will be expected to maintain their own schedules and develop good study
habits. There is no one around to force the student to study, to go to class, or to get a good nights
sleep. Students have to create a structure that works for them. Time management is a skill that
can be learned or improved through work with the Macalester Academic Excellence (MAX)
Center (phone number is 696-6121).
Students may become excited about whole new areas of study and may change their
career goals and major plans. Parents who believe their students goals and dreams are set in
stone may be surprised. While many classes are small, some students may feel overwhelmed by
large classes. They may be the youngest in the class or the least experienced in the subject
matter. Many students are used to being the oldest and the brightest, and this is a big shift for
them. Some professors may not be as exciting and challenging as students thought they would
be. While some professors are interesting lecturers, some are not. Some lead discussion classes
and expect students to do a good deal of the talking. This may challenge quieter students.
Some students may have trouble with reading and writing assignments. The level of
writing required may be higher and in greater quantity than what was expected in high school.
Some students need extra tutoring in writing, grammar, spelling, etc. (Suggest the MAX Center:
696-6121.) Some readings may be more complex and difficult than expected. Assignments may
require several readings and much more time than students allot. Students may develop anxiety
about their performance.
Students may really like their advisor, or may not. If they have an advisor they do not get
along with, they will hesitate to ask that advisor for help. Most advisors work well with students
but occasionally personalities dont mix well. Students can change advisors. Communication is
the key here, even if personalities dont match. There is a maze of things to figure out such as

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which courses to take, who to get to know, where to go for this or that. A lot of energy goes into
trying to make sense of the new environment. Students may feel confused and bewildered from
time to time.Colleges have vocabulary and rituals that are new and unique. Concepts such as
deans, provost, convocations may be new. What do students call their professors? Dr.? Ms.? Mr.?
They need to ask. Some campus rituals may feel strange.
The food is not like home cooking. Students can gain weight during the first year eating
too much fat, starch and junk food. Most students will complain about the food. The food here is
pretty good, much of their dislike comes from eating at the same place for three meals a day,
seven days a week and its not mom or dads cooking. Students dress differently than in high
school. Some have body piercings and purple hair. As your adolescents explore their identity,
they may look radically different during the first vacation or two home.
There are so many choices that the student can be overwhelmed and may not complete
projects and tasks. There are so many clubs, organizations, activities, courses, lectures, sports
practices, and concerns that it is sometimes hard to decide what to go to. Work can suffer if the
student is spread too thin. Conversely, studies show that judicious active involvement can help
students make better use of their time and increase the quality of their work. Some students dont
get enough sleep and get sick because they are committed to too many groups and/or projects.
Balance is the key.
There is some promiscuous behavior and some drug use. Students have to mature, make
responsible choices, and be aware that others may not engage in the most constructive behaviors.
Sometimes roommates want to bring their partners into the room. Some students may even talk
like everyone else is doing it. Keep in mind that this is their perception rather than the reality.
Students will be leaving old friends behind. They can keep up with them through email and

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vacations. In some cases, they will go their separate ways. This may surprise and sadden some
students, especially those who have had the same friends since grade school.
Students will be confronted with different people from a variety of backgrounds. There
are cultural differences; racial differences; and differences in sexual orientation, religion, values,
and lifestyle. It can feel overwhelming to start over with new people. It can be hard to make new
friends. It also gives students a chance to develop a new identity. There will be feelings of
acceptance as well as rejection. Coping with new ideas, new people, and the possibility of
rejection takes energy.Roommates often have different lifestyles, values, and ways of doing
things. A roommate can be particular, messy, reliable, unreliable, assertive, helpful, noisy,
confused and difficult to live with. Some students find it challenging to live with a new person.
For others, it will be easy and friendships will emerge. If a student calls home to complain about
a roommate problem, encourage them first to work things out. There are Residence Assistants
(RAs) who have been trained to assist in this process. Students may need to talk about switching
roommates if the situation becomes intolerable for example, if a roommate is abusive. The RA
can help with that as well.

Works Cited
Scholarshipstats.com,. (2015). Soccer Scholarships & Chances of Playing
College Soccer. Retrieved 13 November 2015, from
http://www.scholarshipstats.com/soccer.html
this site is important to my research because it shows some stats on how people
play soccer in college

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'https://www.mycollegeoptions.org/Core/SiteContent/Students/Advice/CollegeResource-Center/College-Search---Selection/After-High-School/10-Tips-for-Turning-YourPassion-Into-Your-Career.aspx'
This site is great for my topic because it tells you some helpful tips on how you
can continue doing what you love after high school
THE SIMPLE DOLLAR
Thinking About College After High School? Four Points of Advice That You
Probably Won't Hear From Your Guidance Counselor - The Simple Dollar
In-text: (The Simple Dollar)
Bibliography: The Simple Dollar,. 'Thinking About College After High School?
Four Points Of Advice That You Probably Won't Hear From Your Guidance Counselor - The
Simple Dollar'. N.p., 2007. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/thinking-about-college-after-high-school-fourpoints-of-advice-that-you-probably-wont-hear-from-your-guidance-counselor/
this is a good site for me because it shares some ones personal experiences with
making these important decisions.
'https://www.macalester.edu/parents/tipsforsuccess/25challenges/'
this site is important to me because it shows some of the challenges people face
when making the transition from high school to college and it is from a college
HARDCASTLE, M.
What Should You Do after High School? Consider Military Life or Straight to
Work
In-text: (Hardcastle)
Bibliography: Hardcastle, Mike. 'What Should You Do After High School?
Consider Military Life Or Straight To Work'. About.com Dating & Relationships. N.p., 2015.
Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
http://teenadvice.about.com/od/teenlifefaqsandqas/a/postgradchoices.htm
Complete Guide To Life Counseling
In-text: (Mappingyourfuture.org)
Bibliography: Mappingyourfuture.org,. 'Complete Guide To Life Counseling'.
N.p., 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

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https://mappingyourfuture.org/guidetolife/
this site has a guide for what to do after each year of high school
Next Step After High School? Some Alternatives to College | QuintCareers
In-text: (Quintessential Careers)
Bibliography: Quintessential Careers,. 'Next Step After High School? Some
Alternatives To College | Quintcareers'. N.p., 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
http://www.quintcareers.com/college-alternatives/
this is a great site because it showed some alternative things other than college
that you could pursue
Where Can I Learn about Options for Life after High School - Disability.gov
In-text: (Disability.gov)
Bibliography: Disability.gov,. 'Where Can I Learn About Options For Life After
High School - Disability.Gov'. N.p., 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 201
https://www.disability.gov/can-learn-options-life-high-school/
SPIEWAK, S.
The Life-long Impact of High School Sports
In-text: (Spiewak)
Bibliography: Spiewak, Steve. 'The Life-Long Impact Of High School Sports'.
Collegexpress.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.
http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/athletics/articles/balanceschool-sports/life-long-impact-high-school-sports/
this is a site about the long term effects of sports on individuals after high school

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