NOTE: The members of the eighth grade yearbook class will write an article for the Hilltopper online each quarter.
Most eighth graders are thinking about what’s for lunch. Some are already thinking about Harvard.
Students were asked about their goals and aspirations after high school. From Ivy League universities to Division I basketball to becoming president of Venezuela, the answers ranged from ambitious to unexpected.
For some students, the plan is already set.
For Brooks Burkhart, a sixth grader, the plan is more than just picking a school. “My goal is to go to the University of Miami in Florida and study to become a sports agent. I want to work directly with a team or an athlete and help them with their career,” Burkhart (6) said.
Gavin Greely (8) is looking towards Harvard. “After high school, I plan to study engineering at Harvard,” he said. “It’s a big goal, but I want to be able to do something important with my education.”
Some students have an ambition in something that they already love.
Atticus Macdonald (7) has his sights set on sports broadcasting. “After high school, I want to go to college and pursue a career in sports broadcasting because I have a passion for sports.”
All of the goals are different, but all their mindsets are the same. Figure out what to do early and work towards it.
“My goal after high school is to attend a university like Yale and continue my education while figuring out the career path I want to follow. I want to make the most of the opportunities that college will give me.” Amil Wimzie (8) said
Some students have more unique goals in mind.
“After high school, I want to become the president of Venezuela, and also work on landing a backflip.” Ronan Arnold (8) said.
Research shows that ambition is actually useful. According to Psychology Today, a 2015 study by psychologist Gail Matthews found that people who write down their goals are 33 percent more successful at achieving them than people who just think about their goals without putting them on paper.
Burkhart and Greely may not realize it, but having a specific plan this early in their life puts them ahead of most people.
This same research from the work of psychologist Edwin Locke and Gary Latham found that actually setting goals is directly linked to higher motivation and better performance.
It’s not just about dreaming big. It’s about knowing clearly what the dream is of. There is a big difference between “I want to go to college” and “I want to study engineering at Harvard.”
Having goals can be helpful, but not every student will feel ready to figure out their future this early in their life. For some people, the pressure to have a clear plan can be overwhelming. Middle school is a time when many students are still figuring out their interests, and not having everything figured out is normal.
But not everyone has a plan for their future after high school. “I’m into sports, but I don’t think it’s something I can pursue after high school. Past that, I’m still trying to figure out what I actually want to do.” Josh McSorley (6) said.
Even without a clear plan, some tools can help to start figuring things out, such as a career aptitude test, which is a common option.
These tests ask questions about interests, strengths, and activities. Based on the answers chosen, they show career paths that line up with personality and skills.
Some of the most popular and trusted options are accessible online. One example is the 123Test career test, which asks students to respond to different activities and preferences, and then groups the answers to show careers that fit their interests. These results often include categories of jobs and specific examples, which help students better understand what those careers actually involve.
Since these aptitude tests give a range of suggestions and categories, students are able to discover careers they may not have heard of before, and they can begin thinking about what skills they might want to develop for the future.
These tests don’t decide the future, but they can give a direction. They can be a good starting point for someone who feels stuck on what they want to do.
These goals might change, but research shows that actually having goals is what matters the most. Having goals gives something to work towards, and they can keep focus. And starting as early as possible gives a head start that many people don’t have.
The goals are different for everyone, and the goals might change over time. But more middle schoolers are starting to think about their future earlier, and taking big steps in figuring out where they want to go.
