On average, a person with an associate degree earns $8,000 more per year than a person with a high school diploma, and $20,000 more than a person without a high school diploma.

Many young people leave school without the knowledge required to find and keep a job. Today’s employees require advanced technical skills due to rapidly changing and emerging technologies. Graduating from high school is no longer sufficient for entry into the workplace.

Graduates without some type of workforce preparation will find it increasingly difficult to get and keep better paying jobs. Likewise, most jobs that offer career growth, challenging duties, and the opportunity to earn a good living, require prior skills and knowledge. This means the ability is needed to apply what is learned in academic, technical, and information/communication courses to the work world. The purpose of Tech Prep is to help students develop these skills.

Myth: There is one right job for me.
On the contrary, you are a multi-potential individual. There are numerous occupations to which your talents can be equally applied and the nature of these possibilities will expand as your work experience grows.

Myth: Career planning is an irreversible process.
Not so. You can change career direction whenever your talents, needs, and resources dictate or allow.

Myth: There is a particular set of job responsibilities for every occupation.
On the contrary, people in positions having the same titles are very often performing different tasks. The varying duties are due to the individual’s interests and capabilities along with varying needs from employer to employer.

Myth: A four-year college degree guarantees a good paying job.
Not so. Only 20% of current jobs require a four-year college education. It is very important to remember that many jobs require technical skills as well.

Myth: Everyone should go to college.
Everyone probably needs some training beyond high school. Think first about what occupation you want, and then find out what education is necessary to do that job. Remember, desire and effort are necessary to be successful in postsecondary education.