Description
“What are you going to do after graduation?” It is the question your teenager is asked at every family gathering, and often the one nobody has helped them actually work on.
This live online career exploration class for high school is a semester of doing that work properly. Guided by Julia Jinks and the trusted Career Exploration text by Cheri Frame, students take formal interest and aptitude assessments, explore career clusters using real data from O*NET and CareerOneStop, meet guest speakers from a range of industries, complete a virtual job shadow and an informational interview, and finish a capstone project in a career they are genuinely curious about.
It is discussion-based, not a passive workbook, and the honest framing is part of why it works: students will not leave having locked in one job for life. They will leave with a list of careers that genuinely fit them, a realistic action plan, a resume they can use, and a clearer view of college, trades, certifications, and entrepreneurship as real options.
Students will also begin building their professional identity and personal brand by creating a digital portfolio and learning how to present their skills and accomplishments. Students age 16 and older may create a LinkedIn profile to showcase their projects, certificates, and developing interests; younger students will create a professional profile draft for future use.
A former CBS news producer and HGTV writer, Julia Jinks teaches writing, literature, history and personal finance.
“Though not one of my favorite classes from high school, it is arguably the most helpful by far. It really made me think critically about what I was going to do after high school, how I was going to afford it, and if that was not going to work what could I tweak? This class really helped me understand myself, and my strengths and weaknesses, and how that would all affect me later on in life. If you want your kids to think about the long-term, then this class is for you!”
— Hannah N.
Class details
– Teacher: Julia Jinks
– Day and time: Mondays, 9:00-10:00 a.m. CST
– Term: fall semester 2027
– Grades: 10-12, recommended for students age 16 and up
– Credit: 1/2 credit
– Prerequisites: none stated
– Materials: Career Exploration by Cheri Frame
– Live, small-group class on Zoom
Enroll for fall 2027; we are Cognia-accredited and the transcript credit is logged for you.
HannahN. –
Though not one of my favorite classes from high school, it is arguably the most helpful by far. It really made me think critically about what I was going to do after high school, how I was going to afford it, and if that was not going to work what could I tweek? This class really helped me understand myself, and my streangths and weeknesses, and how that would all effect me later on in life. If you want your kids to think about the long-term, then this class is for you!
Rebekah –
This class was very helpful in deciding a career and provided me with many valuable resources. The teacher actively tries to make it interesting, and I learned a lot about myself and jobs that fit my skill set. Overall, an engaging and helpful class.
Lydia –
This was a very helpful class, and I enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed the assessments and the guest speakers the teacher invited. They gave me more information that was very helpful. I learned more about myself and things I might want to consider for a future job.
Mabry –
I’m grateful to have participated in this class, I learned a lot about how loving your job is very important and am appreciative of the time spent with a teacher who was eager to guide us along.
Lizzy –
This class taught me a great deal about myself and helped me discover careers I didn’t even know existed. The teacher is very kind and enthusiastic about the subject. She helped keep us on track and made all the lessons interesting. Overall, it was a helpful and enjoyable class.
Lizzy –
This class taught me a great deal about myself and helped me discover careers I had never even known existed. The teacher is very kind and understanding, and she was genuinely enthusiastic about the material. She kept us on track and made all of the classes interesting. Overall, it was an enjoyable and educational experience.