a school counselor’s quick thoughts on post secondary options

My sister, Bethany sent me this picture of what fall looks like on K-State's campus & it gives me all the warm & fuzzy feelings. I LOVE K-State & all the memories that come with it.

I've been having lots of conversations lately about post secondary options -- between the first 8th grade college visit coming up soon (yay!) & various people reaching out about my job & what my education path was. & let me tell ya, I LOVE talking about my job & the colleges I got my degrees from. I am not blind to the fact that I'm blessed that I realized my passion & was able to connect it to a career early on. & just because it was a perfect fit for me, doesn't mean it's the perfect fit for others.

I feel like my siblings & I are great examples of how education / careers aren’t “one size fits all”.

I graduated from Kansas State University with my Bachelors in Social Work & minor in Human Development & Family Science in 2019. I then worked full time & attended grad school full time for two years. I graduated from Fort Hays State University with my Masters in School Counseling. While at K-State, I changed my major three times & my minor twice, & I thought about getting my masters in social work instead of school counseling, but the right choice for me came to light during my social work practicum in a middle school my senior year of college. Total years in college: 6.

My brother, Ethan started out at Kansas State University, but left after his junior year. He took a semester off just to kind of figure everything out & come up with a new plan. He ended up getting his Associates in Construction Technology from Manhattan Area Technical College. He ended up coming back to K-State & will graduate in May of 2025 with his Bachelors in Hospitality Management & minor in Business Administration. He has changed his major three times & changed colleges twice. Total years in college: 8.

My sister, Bethany graduated from Kansas State University in 2024 with her Bachelors in Human Development & Family Science & minor in Couples & Family Therapy, Well-Being, & Leadership Studies. While at K-State, she changed her major one time. She is currently at K-State working on her Masters in Couples & Family Therapy — she’ll graduate in the summer of 2026. Total years in college: 5.

& my youngest sister, Avery also started out at Kansas State University, but left after her freshman year to get her Associates in General Studies with an Emphasis in Massage Therapy from Fort Hays State University (she will graduate in May of 2025). She changed her major three times & changed colleges once. Total years in college: 2.

Just a reminder that a typical four-year college education doesn't have to be the norm. There are lots of other options: junior college, technical college, entering the work force, etc.
Each year I take the 8th graders on visit various local colleges. As we continue to explore career interests with our students, it is important for students to realize that there are several post-secondary options. The purpose of these college visits is to help our students gain knowledge about post-secondary options. Each student got to select specific colleges they are interested in visiting. The visits were planned based on these requests. I will have to create a post in the spring once we attend all of the visits!
I love watching people discover what they want to be when they grow up. & the sweetest gift as a counselor would be if they feel all the warm & fuzzy feelings when they look back on their journeys as well.