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During this time of pomp and circumstance, schools, families, and the broader community come together to celebrate the incredible achievements of graduating seniors over the course of their K-12 educational journey. From academic excellence to volunteer contributions to sports accolades to industry certifications, these milestones reflect talents, dedication, and individual and collective growth that should be spotlighted. 

As these celebrations occur, it is also critical to acknowledge the important role counselors, college and career advisors, and CTE educators have played in helping students reach this point. They have put in countless hours to ensure that students are walking across the graduation stage with a concrete plan for the future, the skills to be successful, and the confidence to know who they are and what they aspire to do. 

As this year’s graduates go onto their postsecondary next step–whether entering college or a trade program, going directly to the workforce, or joining the military–it is important to pause and share gratitude for these incredible professionals; their efforts, both big and small, have significantly contributed to students� persistence, wellbeing, and success, both now and for years to come. 

You Help Students Discover Their Passions

Whether having informal conversations with students that reveal what excites them or what they are particularly good at or creating formal pathways for hands-on, career-centered learning, college and career readiness (CCR) professionals in schools are often the individuals that help students uncover the interests that motivate and inspire them. They guide students in connecting these interests to meaningful opportunities, encourage exploration beyond the classroom, and ensure each student sees a future where their passions can connect with purpose. 

This work means that students know about a wide array of options and feel empowered to go after what they want. Each interaction that has led to participation in career-aligned experiences, collaboration with community partners, the decision to take an advanced course of interest, or recommendations to tailor plans based on a student’s specific and unique strengths or goals has made a difference in shaping that student’s path forward. 

You Encourage Students to Contribute to Their Communities 

CTE educators, college and career advisors, and counselors are, in many ways, conduits between the school and broader community. These educators work actively to find ways to nurture a more well-rounded approach to growth and align learning with purpose. These are the individuals within schools who regularly create opportunities for students to build upon their academic learning by working, leading, and giving back to their neighborhoods or local organizations. Connecting students with internships or summer job positions or encouraging volunteer projects across different sectors help students see themselves as active, engaged, and contributing members of the community. These kinds of experiences cannot be replicated in classrooms and lay the foundation for lifelong civic engagement that extends far beyond students� high school years. 

You Give Hope to Students Who Don’t Think They Have A Fulfilling Future Ahead

For students struggling to find purpose in their day-to-day school experience, having a supportive adult who is able to see their potential, recognize their strengths, and help them find a path toward a next step that is right for them can be life-changing. Counselors, CTE educators, and college and career advisors are often these individuals for students. For those who are off track academically, counselors are often the ones to step in—identifying barriers, helping students earn needed credits, and collaborating with teachers to create realistic, supportive plans for success. Sometimes, simply having someone who refuses to give up on them is what allows students to start believing in themselves again.

And CTE educators can often provide powerful counterpoints to traditional academic courses and settings that are not always the right fit for students. These environments allow for hands-on learning where students can actually see measurable, tangible progress and purpose. Further, these opportunities, along with support from college and career advisors and counselors, can help to highlight interesting career pathways–guiding students who feel stuck to find worthwhile and accessible options beyond graduation. Through these efforts, these educators not only ensure that students are meeting graduation requirements, they help them to develop resilience and determination and discover hope that they, too, can have a future they are excited to work toward. 

You Empower Students and Families to Make Dreams a Reality

Many students enter high school with an abstract idea of how they see success. From getting into the college of their dreams to working toward a career role they’ve envisioned since childhood to just living on their own as a productive adult, these aspirations are exciting. But most students do not know how to actually accomplish these dreams.

Counselors, CTE educators, and college and career readiness advisors help students to move from a place of uncertainty to one of confidence. They partner with students as they explore and wonder, facilitating the creation of a 4-year plan that outlines an actionable path to help students reach their goals. They guide reflection, invite engagement, instill confidence, and provide support and resources to any students and families that need help in overcoming barriers to future planning. These educators, advisors, and counselors are truly the heroes of college and career readiness–helping to channel students� potential into purpose.