Below are some alternatives to college or typical summer jobs. If you head out on a adventure make sure you check in with your family and let others know where you are going. Do not go off with out support.
Create a bucket list – Most people can readily tell you what they do not want out of life, but few can tell you what they want (these are often the most successful). Do you want to learn a skill, travel to some crazy cool place, learn to scuba dive, or earn a Guinness book of world record? Having goals helps give you direction / purpose / motivation. You can always change course later.
Travel Gap Year – this is where you take 6 months or maybe a year after high school (or college) and do things you want to do before starting to work. It is not a free-for-all but a planned break. Many people also work a part-time job to help pay for what they are looking to experience / accomplish.
Cheap / Free Stay at camp sites (https://koa.com/) Go with friends and split the cost (plan it out or just hit the road) Become a travel guide (there are businesses that will train you) Teach English as a Second Language abroad (TEFL certification) Research an option on your own! Relocate vehicles (may have to be 21+) – some places pay you and others may not pay but it’s a cheap way to travel if you can plan a little. Driveaway USA Transfercar
Classes Become a realtor Earn your CDL (Commercial Driving License) Become a notary (this would be a nice thing to add to a resume) Certificate programs (one example is phlebotomy) Career- Bootcamps (Typically for Tech skills) - Both online and in person. In Basically one or two semesters you can be ready to start a career.
Work Seasonal / Temporary (Ski resorts need seasonal help in many areas - cooking, front desk, etc.) Contract based (these jobs are for a specific amount of time) Gig Work (Freelance, Uber, DoorDash, TaskRabbit, etc.) Sales / commission-based Hotel Night Auditor 911 Dispatcher Entrepreneurship (start your own business) Trades (these can often allow you to earn money while learning and are always needed)
