Lots of us have ideas about things we like to do – even jobs we might be interested in doing in the future – but it’s not always easy to know how to get there.  This is where knowing how to build a pathway comes in. 

Planning for the future is a lot like following a road map to get to a destination; when you know which roads to take, getting to the destination is a lot easier!  Always remember one very important “travel truth”; there is usually more than one road leading to a destination!  What matters most is planning the route that’s best for you and gives you the best chance for success.

Here are some important steps to help get you started on building your pathway:

• Start to learn about careers that suit your interests and skills by visiting www.careercruising.com. Here, you can take a quiz to find out what careers suit your unique likes and talents, find information about hundreds of careers, watch interviews of people who work in those jobs, and find out about specific post-secondary programs that will get you where you want to go. See your guidance counsellor to get your school’s username and password.
• Start a plan that is easy to use and change as you move through high school.  Go to www.myBlueprint.ca and create your own profile where you can store information about:
• courses you’ve taken
• courses you plan to take
• tracking your progress toward graduation
• post-secondary programs connected to your courses and interests
• Investigate your career areas of interest in each pathway (Apprenticeship, College, University and the Workplace) to find out what training is needed in order to prepare you for the career(s) you’re interested in. 
• Think carefully about what level of courses are appropriate for you as a learner.  Ask yourself:  should I take Applied or Academic courses in Grades 9 and 10?  Should I plan to take Workplace, College or University level courses in Grades 11 and 12? 

As you move through your years in high school, keep your information and plans up-to-date – it’s quick, easy, and a great way to help you plan and prepare for your pathway.