Middle School Students Prepare for High School and Beyond
Students are gaining valuable skills that will help them succeed in high school and beyond. High School Prep classes, taught by Molly Burgeson at Oak Ridge Middle School and Travis Pierson at Excelsior Middle School, focus on preparing students for the future through career exploration, financial literacy, and essential life skills. These quarter-long courses offer hands-on learning opportunities that provide real-world experiences to help students make informed decisions about their futures.
Building Essential Skills for the Future
At both Oak Ridge and Excelsior, the High School Prep curriculum centers around helping students understand the importance of planning ahead. One of the key units is the mock interview. “Students create a resume, write a cover letter, and then practice their interviews with adult volunteers,” she explained. “It’s a great way for them to experience a job interview and get a feel for what it might be like in the future.”
Pierson focuses on similar topics, including the four-year high school plan and career exploration. “We help students understand the wide variety of classes available in high school and how they can use those electives to explore their interests,” Pierson said. Students also take personality assessments to align their strengths with potential careers, and they discuss various post-high school pathways, such as college, trade school, the military, or entering the workforce directly. Both teachers work with students to help them plan their high school path.
Financial Literacy and Real-World Experiences
One of the most impactful parts of the High School Prep class is its focus on financial literacy. Students learn practical skills such as managing budgets, understanding credit, and even making decisions about housing and transportation. Burgeson often gets questions about credit scores, debit cards, and the cost of living. “When we talk about budgeting, students often express concern about how expensive life can be,” she said. “It’s a great learning opportunity for them to start thinking about these things early on.”
Pierson’s class also tackles these topics, including a deeper dive into understanding take-home pay versus gross pay. “We teach students how to build a budget based on realistic salaries, explore different career paths, and even learn about investing,” Pierson explained. Students simulate life after high school, learning how different decisions, such as whether to attend a two-year college or jump straight into the workforce, affect their financial future.
Preparing Students for Success
Both Burgeson and Pierson agree that the High School Prep classes not only provide students with critical knowledge but also allow them to explore their interests in a hands-on way. “These courses give students the chance to discover what they enjoy and what they might want to pursue in the future,” said Burgeson. Pierson added, “It’s about giving students the tools to make informed decisions about their future while showing them that the world is full of opportunities.”
The real-world skills students gain in these classes help them feel more confident and prepared for the future. From mock interviews to budgeting and career exploration, High School Prep is setting students up for success in high school and beyond. As both teachers emphasize, early preparation and exploration are the keys to navigating the many paths that lie ahead.