This article is strictly focus on how high school doesn't prepare students for real life. Throughout my high school career classes were very easy, I rarely had homework and attendance was not important. Now as a college student I'm always finding myself saying the phrase "high school didn't prepare me for this" in order to get rid of this saying completely I proposed a 5 step concept to helping kids prepare for their future. These concepts are not just focused on academically inclined students but also career focused kids. The audience of my proposal was aimed at high school administrators and students.

Step 1 of my proposal was focused on offering a class in high school on "how to adult" instead of offering unnecessary electives. Students begin thinking about real life at graduation so the class would need to be taught at a later age closer to senior year, potentially junior year. This class we be a lecture, not online so students can't slide their way through. The class would offer budgeting skills/money management including money orders, checks, leases and rent. Lastly how to correctly utilize voting rights and mini discussion of political parties and what they stand for. This class will be required to graduate.

Step 2 is for teachers to make students stay academically focused. Students should be encouraged constantly by faculty. This can begin by searching for job interests and internships. Students need to know how to apply for college and scholarships; along with learning how to write a cover letter, resume and how to correctly ask for letters of recommendations. The office must be aware of transcripts and when they should be sent and constantly encouraging ACT/SAT prep. Lastly, explaining how financial aid and aid awards work. Every teacher or counselor has been to college and they should help the students learn from their mistakes and encourage success by helping them out.

Tough love is the best love. Step 3 is to expect independent accountability. Most students are unaware of how easy it is to slack off, especially when it comes to attending class. I know how it is for students with senioritis as we claim to have it since freshman year. Teachers need to stimulate a college atmosphere in the high school classroom. This will start with a strict tardy and absence policy, so students are used to showing up for class because in college parents aren't there to drag you out of bed. Teachers need to maintain a strict homework and paper policy. Deadline means deadline, no if ands or buts. Lastly teachers should offer office hours to allow students to come in for extra help. Teachers should still have a planning period but possibly adding another hour for office hours would be helpful. This is how college will be running and students should be comfortable with one on one conversation with professors.

Step 4 was all about extracurricular activities. I understand that not every one is involved in sports but these include leadership positions as well as volunteerism and jobs. College expects students to maintain other organizations on top of academic duties and it shows admission officers that students can be balanced. Being involved in high school will allow the students to be prepared for life on campus.

The final step, step 5, is future focused. As mentioned earlier not all students are academic focused so if teachers and counselors have students take career tests it allows them to not only think about their future outside of academics but also shows them what fits their everyday interests. Major exploration is important for both career focused kids and academic focused kids. For students who will attend college teachers should recommend colleges that match academic profiles and career goals. For example, I was always wanted to do broadcast journalism and someone relayed the information to me that the University of Oklahoma had a wonderful journalism school and program, but without this information I could've gone somewhere that didn't help expand my future goals.

There are 168 hours in one week and as college students we are expected to do a lot of things in that week such as hold a job, classes, homework, internships and so on, but if high school doesn't begin preparing students for this life they will have a hard transition. Not only that but if students aren't prepared the first time we won't have to worry about doing something a second time. "Education reported that $1.4 billion a year is spent on remedial education. There are several expenses that colleges have to worry about while providing these classes, including instructors, classrooms and other support services." If students are academic focused colleges could save a ton of money. With these five steps life after high school will be a smooth transition for everyone.