Blog

When you think about a career in the trades, don’t think that means turning wrenches for the rest of your working life. The skilled trades offer plenty of opportunity for advancement in positions that challenge your intellect, as well as managerial and leadership abilities. As you gain experience in...

A long time ago, I taught essay writing at the University of Illinois in Chicago, my alma mater. Like other instructors, I held office hours for individual student consultations. One day I was meeting with a young man who was the worst student in my class. He had trouble stringing two coherent sentences...

If you’re on the brink of adulthood, you’re probably hearing a lot of people say that you’ll know what you want to do for a living when you “find your passion.” It turns out they might have this just a bit wrong. They’ve got the “passion” part right. But, new studies suggest that you...

There is absolutely nothing wrong with you if you’re about to finish high school and you’re still unclear about a career choice. It’s a tough decision – especially with the constant changes in the world. Will a steady job in a particular industry be a sure thing 15, 10 or even five years down...

Preparing for life after high school means getting ready to handle bills and financial obligations. It usually means you’re moving away from home to be closer to your next level of education – but even if you’re staying at home, you’ll have to manage finances in a more sophisticated fashion....

Thanks to TV and the movies, the average high school guidance counselor has been cast as the seldom helpful adult who’s supposed to assist you in preparing for life after graduation. In real life, they’re highly trained professionals who have the ability to solve all sorts of school-related puzzles...

High school students who are absolutely sure they’re college-bound often find themselves not-so-sure about what extracurricular activities to pursue. What will look best on their college application? This is supposedly important because it helps college admission officers understand your personality...

In my last blog I warned about how so many college students are prevented from buying homes and establishing families due to the burden imposed by student debt. Here I want to warn against being lured into thinking that various loan forgiveness programs might point the way to easy street. The amount...

America is renowned as the land of opportunity. A big part of what’s often been called “the American Dream” has been home ownership. Traditionally that meant working hard and putting away savings for a number of years until you had enough to afford a down payment. I bet that’s how many of your...