High School Yearbooks: A Day in the Life Sunday

Lives on display.

From timelines to pinboards and every social networking site in between, our day to day happenings are on display for the world to see. Just how much depends on you. Are you an open book? A closed book? Or do you offer a sneak peak every now and then?

I was looking for some printer paper the other morning and came across my husband's 1977 high school yearbook, the Noble Logue. <Yes, he's old.> I cracked the cover to find his picture. This was easier said than done because apparently "Rosen" comes after "Roset" on the Minnesota Iron Range.

I did not see his picture at first. Then, I turned the page to find his HS mug shot with these graduating word of wisdom,

"Silence makes no blunders."

Profound.

I didn't think my parting words were any more profound so I dug out the Bellport High School Log. Note: we were much more pedestrian on the Island using Log instead of Logue.

Right there, in it's alphabetically correct position, was my HS mug sharing a page with Ziggy and Smurf. My 1981 self said:

"Take it Easy. Eagles. Dreams and Memories. Ambition: To love and be happy."

The kid took one look at the pic tonight and told me I'd have had more friends in HS if I smiled. Oh well. What can I say. This was my deep smoldering look.

Our Class Motto? '81 Has Just Begun.

"Well I'm a runnin' down the road tryin' to loosen my load . . ."

Yes, I know. Some books, and chapters of our lives, are better left unopened.

Advice About The World Of Work For High School Students

I am participating in a Super Success Skills Seminar (S4) with a local school district next week. The week long program provides direct interaction with a professional in the business world and high school students from the local area through a series of preset email questions, mock interviews, and a capstone lunch.

The email questions start off with a description of the career and education required, best things/worst things about the job, and the importance of math and communication skills. The final two two questions are: what are three pieces of advice you can give someone preparing for future employment and what do you wish you would have known about the world of work when you were in high school?

My quick answers are below and I'd love to hear what advice you have for these high school students.

What are three pieces of advice you can give someone preparing for future employment?

• Take time to discover what types of things you like to do – solve problems, build things, work with children, work outside, work in an office, sell things – and then seek out opportunities that let you do that.
• Don’t be afraid – or opposed – to entry level positions, starting at the bottom and working your way up. There is gold in knowing exactly how things work and giving people the opportunity to see you in action. You are applying for your next job every day so be professional, no matter how menial a task seems to be to you.
• Volunteer and network with others and be prepared to let them know who you are and what you have to offer – friends, family, neighbors, hiring managers, school officials, etc.

What do you wish you would have known about the world of work when you were in high school?

• It’s tough to get a job and companies are generally not there to help you find a job with them – they are looking for the candidates that can do the job.
• It is your responsibility to be prepared to interview, to come to work when expected and to be professional at all times. Your career is your responsibility  - no one else’s – and sometimes it’s just not fair when someone gets hired and you don’t. Get over it quickly, figure out what you can do better next time and get back out there.

What do you think? What would you tell these very interested and eager high school students?