Through its many years in transforming and educating students, Bob Jones High School has guided thousands of students into colleges, military stations, or the workforce in hopes that they achieve future success. However, the question now is how can Bob Jones begin preparing students for life beyond high school–or possibly even now?

In the early days of 2018, Bob Jones High School was ranked as the third best Alabama high school in preparing students for college. “We are proud of [our ranking in college preparedness],” Bob Jones Principal Sylvia Lambert mentioned in an email to parents and students on Jan. 28. “[We] always strive to improve in preparing students for life beyond high school for college, work, or other training.”

Offering a vast selection of Advanced Placement classes and opportunities for students, Bob Jones allows students to branch out and try new things, to explore new opportunities and possible futures, but where does it stop?

In general, Bob Jones provides information for many life skills, but some say it might not be enough. One student mentioned that in her career preparatory class, she learned basic interview techniques but never learned with depth the essentials, such as budgets, job finding, finances, or taxes–life skills that all will need to know in the future. So, it’s useless, right?

Despite some opinions, the class is indeed useful. “By offering [Career Prep] to freshmen, they are able to map out a plan for their time in high school,” Bob Jones TAP Advisor Karen Sargent mentioned. “Hopefully, it gets them to start thinking about the future, what they want to do and how they will accomplish the task.”

According to the Alabama Course of Study, the classes, Career Prep A and B, is supposed to make students college- and career-ready while also teaching skills like decision making, career development, technology, finances, and much more, but for the most part, a simulation seems to dominate much of the class’s curriculum. “Everfi is the worst, and I still haven’t forgotten [or forgiven] that experience.”

Unfortunately, students already know how to play with and manage a virtual life–an artificial game–where they scramble through and find the right choice with as many chances as needed, but the main factor is if they know how to survive in the real world when they only have one life.

“We talk with students about where they see themselves in 10 years, 20 years. How will they achieve their dreams? What do they need to be doing to reach their goals? How can they combine different interests they may have to be a happy, successful adult,” Sargent stated.

When asked where her life skills were learned, Kafui Sakyi-Addo, junior, stated she learned none of them from school, but with her parents, allowing her to obtain the job she currently has. On the other end of spectrum, Will, a JROTC student, said he is completely prepared to conquer life after high school through the military.

The primary debate seems to just be how students are using their resources.

According to a survey conducted of Bob Jones students, over 50% of respondents felt they only somewhat prepared for life after college, leaving around 36% responding yes, they are prepared, and 11% responding no, they are not prepared. The clock is always ticking, so the goal now is to help prepare students for more than just college.

Without a doubt, Bob Jones is effectively preparing students for college, but for those who want to go straight into the workforce, they do not have much of a backbone to support them.

Sargent also mentioned that students have the ability to receive assistance with filling out employment applications, resumes, and mock interviews. Students also take the ACT Work Keys test, which can be helpful in some fields. Sometimes students need more.

Noted from one student’s experience of Bob Jones Career Tech class, students were not given a chance to do what they signed up to do, but instead listened to lectures, completed worksheets, and, seemingly, just played. “I thought we would have more real experiences. I don’t think I could just walk on a job site and know what was going on at this point,” said one student, who preferred to remain anonymous.

Mrs. Panagos, an English and Career Tech teacher, said, “Career Tech classes can be a little hit or miss, but for the most part, students learn a lot about these career areas. Students shouldn’t be put off by one bad experience. They might miss out on finding something their passionate about.”

The problem is that Bob Jones has so much for its students, yet has so little if students do not completely take advantage of their opportunities. ”

Whatever a student’s path might be, as a school, we must be ready to guide students in the direction which they need to go: whether through a military route, college, straight into the workforce, or on a path on their own.

“Every student at Bob Jones has a story line that is uniquely theirs,” Sargent said. “Our goal is to help them along that journey to becoming responsible adults.”

How is Bob Jones preparing students for life after high school? By guiding students each step of the way into the future each individual longs to have: success.