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Life after High School: Setting Goals and Exploring Career Options

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Published: Sep 7, 2023

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The importance of setting life goals, the significance of career exploration.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to graduate high school early: 5 key steps.

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Are you a high school student who's thinking about graduating early? Maybe you have an exciting internship offer, want to start college early, or are interested in jumping right into the workforce.

The good news is that graduating high school early is often not as challenging as many people might think it is. This guide will give you all the tips and information you need to know about how to graduate from high school early in an easy and hassle-free way. It will also help you decide whether graduating early is ultimately the right decision for you.

What Does It Mean to Graduate High School Early?

In the US, the typical high school education lasts four years. Students who want to graduate early aim to complete their high school in less than four years , usually in three or three and a half years.

Unless you're homeschooled or attend a non-traditional school, it's often difficult or impossible to graduate high school if you have completed less than three years . This is because students normally can't complete all their graduation requirements in this tight of a time frame.

If you graduate early, you will receive the same diploma as any other graduate from your high school. Your transcript won't have any special indication that you graduated early , other than the fact that it'll contain fewer semesters than a typical high school transcript does.

Why Might You Want to Graduate Early? 4 Possible Reasons

What are the benefits of graduating high school early? Here are four of the most common reasons students strive to complete high school in less time.

#1: You Want to Start Your Next Education Phase Early

One common reason why students choose to graduate high school early is that they want to get a head start on college or technical school . You might want to do this if you have a lot of school left (say, you're planning on attending med school or getting a PhD) and want to get ahead so you can eventually complete your schooling a bit earlier.

You could also be interested in only attending college part-time but still want to graduate when you're 21/22. Completing high school early can help make each of these situations possible.

Graduating high school early can mean you enroll full-time (or even in just a few classes) at a new school. Students who enroll part-time often have a part-time job as well to help pay for classes.

#2: You Want to Pursue an Opportunity Before College

You might also have another opportunity you want to take advantage of that isn't related to school or classes. This could be an internship to get career experience, a job to earn money, or a similar opportunity you think is worth finishing high school early for.

Gap years , in which students take a year or so off from school to travel, work, or have a different experience, are becoming increasingly popular among high school and college-aged students. If you decide to do one, there are lots of options available, depending on your interests. You could work at a theater, help out at an archaeological dig, volunteer, and so on.

Spending a year away from school can help you get a better idea of how you want to spend the rest of your life —and it can also give you some great, enriching experiences.

#3: You Want to Enter the Workforce as Soon as Possible

Some high school students know early on what they want to do professionally and don't want or need to go to college in order to enter this field and be successful; as a result, you might want to graduate early so you can get started as soon as possible on establishing your career and earning a consistent income .

Entering the workforce at a younger age does come with its own set of challenges, of course (for example, you might find it difficult to get a full-time job if you're under 18), but it can be an ideal path for those who are ready to put in the energy and effort needed to find success.

Graduating high school early to start working might also be a good option for you if you want or need to start making money right away, whether to support yourself or your family .

#4: You Simply Don't Enjoy High School

A final reason you might want to graduate high school early is that you just don't enjoy it . Some people feel lonely or out of place in high school, and others don't feel that they're learning a lot.

This can be a legitimate reason to graduate high school early, but make sure you understand that it'll take time and effort on your part to plan it out , and you won't be able to finish high school immediately.

Disliking high school could be a reason to graduate early.

How to Graduate High School Early: 5-Step Guide

So, how can you graduate high school early? I've outlined the steps you need to follow below. There's a bit of math involved but nothing you can't handle. After all, you'll soon be a high school graduate!

Step 1: Decide When You Want to Graduate

This first step is pretty simple: all you need to do is decide how early you want to graduate high school . Do you want to graduate a semester early? An entire year? How long do you want to spend pursuing whatever it is you're doing instead of attending high school?

When figuring this out, keep in mind that it's often easier to graduate just a semester early than it is a whole year . If that doesn't seem like a long enough time to you, remember that even if you only graduate a semester early, you'll finish high school in December or January. If you start college the following September, that still gives you about eight months of time to work, travel, or pursue another opportunity.

If you still need help deciding, talk to your academic advisor. They're a great resource to have, and they'll likely be able to help make this process easier (not to mention, you'll have to let them know if you officially decide to graduate early, so you might as well start talking to them now).

Step 2: Calculate the Number of Credits You Need to Graduate

Now that you know when you want to graduate, it's time to get into the math. Almost every high school requires its students to complete a certain number of credits before they can graduate. Look in your student handbook or ask your academic advisor to find out how many credits your particular high school requires.

As an example, we'll use the high school I graduated from, which required its students to complete 21 credits, with each class worth about 0.5 credits per semester.

First, figure out how many credits you've already completed. You can usually find this information on your report card or transcript, or you can ask your advisor.

Next, subtract the number of credits you've completed from the number of total credits you need to graduate. The answer you get is the number of credits you'll need to take before you can graduate.

The good news for you is that the number of graduating credits for most high schools often doesn't require you to complete four full-time years of school . Again, for my high school, you needed to complete 21 credits to graduate, but a student attending high school full-time would complete about 7 credits each year, meaning most students at the end of their junior year would already have enough credits to graduate.

The number of credits you need to take isn't all you need to worry about, though, so let's move on to the next step.

Step 3: Determine Which Classes You Need to Graduate

It's time to figure out the specific classes you need to take to graduate.

Look at your student handbook or talk to your advisor to learn which classes students at your high school must take in order to graduate. This will usually require a certain number of semesters of math, English, science, and social studies , as well as some possible other requirements, such as a gym or fine arts class.

Make a list of all the required classes you haven't taken yet. Sometimes the requirements are general, such as taking six semesters of math, while other times they're more specific (e.g., all students must take algebra and geometry). Pay attention to this when making your list. Be aware that most high schools require four years of English but fewer years of other core subjects.

To again use my former high school as an example, all students had to complete the following:

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of math
• 2-3 years of science
• 2 years of history/social studies
• 1 year of a foreign language
• 4 years of gym/PE
• A fine arts class, a typing class, a driver's education class, and a consumer education class

Which classes does your high school require you to take?

Step 4: Figure Out Which Classes the Colleges You're Interested in Require

Now, we move on from classes that you must take in order to graduate to classes that it's a good idea for you to take (but aren't actually required).

Many times, the bare minimum high school graduation requirements aren't enough to get you into top colleges. For example, your high school might only require you to take two years of social studies, but the colleges you're interested in might want three to four years.

Check the admission requirements for several colleges you're interested in attending , and add any additional requirements they have to the list of classes you need to take in high school.

Keep in mind that you'll want to take more classes in the subject(s) you plan to study in college. So if you're planning on majoring in biology, you might be fine taking just three years of social studies; however, you'll probably want to take four years each of math and science if you're hoping to get into more competitive schools .

Step 5: Set Up a Schedule for When to Take the Rest of Your Classes

Now that you know how many credits you need to take and which classes you need to complete, it's time to start figuring out how you'll graduate high school early.

Make blank schedules for each semester you have left of high school. For example, say I just finished my sophomore year: I take seven classes a day and want to graduate a semester early. I'd make three columns, each with seven blank spaces, representing all the room I have left to take classes (see example below).

Next, begin filling in the blanks, starting with the classes that are required to graduate. For each class, put its number of credits next to it in parentheses. For some spots, you might not know exactly what class you'll be taking next, but you can put its general subject down for now like this: "English class (3 credits)."

After you've filled in required classes (and if you have extra space), start adding other classes you'd like to take or would be helpful for you to get into college.

Once all the spaces on your schedule have been filled in, add up all the credits you will have completed . Have you met the minimum requirement for your school? If not, how many classes will you need to take to meet it?

After, look at what classes are left over on your list. Are there any required classes you weren't able to fit? Any classes you don't have to take but would like to?

If you need to take either additional credits or classes, start thinking of ways you can fit them in outside of the normal school day. Some options include summer classes , taking classes at a nearby community college or university , or taking online classes . For each of these options, discuss it with your advisor before you enroll to ensure you'll get the required credit(s) you need.

Once you've figured out how you'll take each of these extra classes, add the information to your schedule.

Look at the junior- and senior-year schedule below for an example of how this all works:

In this example, the student would be able to graduate a semester early while having a course load that would be considered strong at many colleges . This student is planning on majoring in biology, so she wanted to maximize her math and science classes. Her junior-year schedule was pretty normal with the exception of taking two science classes (physics and AP Biology) at the same time. Taking two classes in one subject is something you'll likely have to do if you want to graduate early.

She realized that she wouldn't be able to fit in calculus normally, so she chose to take it over the summer. For her final semester, she took two English classes at the same time, took both a math elective and a science elective to get more experience in those subjects, and completed the rest of her required classes.

Assuming she had a regular schedule her previous semesters, she would have completed four and a half years of science, four and a half years of math, four years of English, three years of social studies, three years of a foreign language, and all her other required classes.

Completing those classes would be good enough for most colleges, though some highly selective schools would require four years of both social studies and a foreign language.

Notice that she had a lot of different options when creating her schedule —she could have dropped her foreign language and taken a different course, chosen to take two math electives her senior year instead of calculus over the summer, and considered a variety of other options.

Also, be aware that her junior year would probably be pretty challenging with her full course load that includes two science classes. Keep all these things in mind when creating your own high school class schedule.

Once you've finished designing your schedule, double-check it to make sure that all the school graduation requirements are met .

Congratulations—you now have a plan for graduating high school early! If you haven't before now, share your plan with your advisor and ask whether there are any additional steps you should take.

3 Potential Drawbacks to Graduating High School Early

You now know how to graduate high school early, but just because you can doesn't automatically mean that you should . Read on to learn the three potential drawbacks you might face should you choose to graduate early.

#1: It Can Be Stressful

As you saw above, graduating high school early takes a lot of planning and might mean you have to take extra classes during the school year and summer . Balancing this heavier course load can be stressful and tiring, and that's something you should consider before you commit to graduating early.

#2: You Might Miss Out on Important Events

Another potential drawback to graduating high school early is that you might miss out on special high school events.

For many high school students, senior year is their favorite year because of popular activities like homecoming and prom. If you graduate early, you might not be able to participate in these events. Additionally, you might not attend a graduation ceremony, which is an important experience for many students.

Before you decide to graduate early, think about how you'll feel if you see all your friends participating in events such as sports games, school dances, and senior days while you don't. For some people, this isn't important at all—but for others, they'd regret missing out on these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

#3: It Won't Necessarily Impress Colleges

Lastly, don't try to graduate high school early to impress colleges. Just by itself, finishing high school in a shorter amount of time won't give your college applications a boost. In fact, if graduating high school early means you have fewer classes in core subjects, it could even hurt your chances of admission!

Unless you have plans to spend your time at a great internship or another exciting opportunity that will really show colleges who you are and what your skills are, colleges won't see graduating high school early as a sign of increased intelligence or motivation.

Don't expect colleges to be automatically impressed that you graduated early.

Should You Graduate High School Early?

You know how you can plan to graduate from high school early—but should you actually do it?

The main way to decide this is to think about what you'll do during the time you'd normally be in high school . If you have a great opportunity you'd like to take advantage of, such as an internship, a travel experience, college classes, or something similar, graduating high school might be a good idea.

However, if you plan to spend your time mostly watching TV or maybe working a few hours a week, it's probably in your best interest to graduate when you normally would.

Next, go through all the steps above. Is it possible for you to graduate early while also taking all the classes you need to and would like to without stretching yourself too thin? If you've found answers to both of the above considerations, graduating high school early might be something for you to start planning.

What's Next?

Thinking about summer school as a way to complete some of your graduation requirements? Check out our complete guide to summer school to learn whether it's a good option for you.

Do you think you go to a bad high school? Learn what your options are if you aren't happy with your current school .

Taking an independent study can be a great way to fulfill some of your graduation requirements. Learn how to take an independent study class with our expert guide.

What's the benefit to graduating high school early vs dropping out? Find out with our article on whether or not you need a high school diploma .

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (120+ Ideas!)

Ideas to inspire every young writer!

High school students generally do a lot of writing, learning to use language clearly, concisely, and persuasively. When it’s time to choose an essay topic, though, it’s easy to come up blank. If that’s the case, check out this huge round-up of essay topics for high school. You’ll find choices for every subject and writing style.

• Argumentative Essay Topics
• Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics
• Compare-Contrast Essay Topics
• Descriptive Essay Topics
• Expository and Informative Essay Topics
• Humorous Essay Topics

Literary Essay Topics

• Narrative and Personal Essay Topics
• Personal Essay Topics
• Persuasive Essay Topics

Research Essay Topics

Argumentative essay topics for high school.

When writing an argumentative essay, remember to do the research and lay out the facts clearly. Your goal is not necessarily to persuade someone to agree with you, but to encourage your reader to accept your point of view as valid. Here are some possible argumentative topics to try. ( Here are 100 more compelling argumentative essay topics. )

• The most important challenge our country is currently facing is … (e.g., immigration, gun control, economy)
• The government should provide free internet access for every citizen.
• All drugs should be legalized, regulated, and taxed.
• Vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco.
• The best country in the world is …
• Parents should be punished for their minor children’s crimes.
• Should all students have the ability to attend college for free?
• Should physical education be part of the standard high school curriculum?

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• Schools should require recommended vaccines for all students, with very limited exceptions.
• Is it acceptable to use animals for experiments and research?
• Does social media do more harm than good?
• Capital punishment does/does not deter crime.
• What one class should all high schools students be required to take and pass in order to graduate?
• Do we really learn anything from history, or does it just repeat itself over and over?
• Are men and women treated equally?

Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics for High School

A cause-and-effect essay is a type of argumentative essay. Your goal is to show how one specific thing directly influences another specific thing. You’ll likely need to do some research to make your point. Here are some ideas for cause-and-effect essays. ( Get a big list of 100 cause-and-effect essay topics here. )

• Humans are causing accelerated climate change.
• Fast-food restaurants have made human health worse over the decades.
• What caused World War II? (Choose any conflict for this one.)
• Describe the effects social media has on young adults.

• How does playing sports affect people?
• What are the effects of loving to read?
• Being an only/oldest/youngest/middle child makes you …
• What effect does violence in movies or video games have on kids?
• Traveling to new places opens people’s minds to new ideas.
• Racism is caused by …

Compare-Contrast Essay Topics for High School

As the name indicates, in compare-and-contrast essays, writers show the similarities and differences between two things. They combine descriptive writing with analysis, making connections and showing dissimilarities. The following ideas work well for compare-contrast essays. ( Find 80+ compare-contrast essay topics for all ages here. )

• Public and private schools
• Capitalism vs. communism
• Monarchy or democracy
• Dogs vs. cats as pets

• Paper books or e-books
• Two political candidates in a current race
• Going to college vs. starting work full-time
• Working your way through college as you go or taking out student loans
• iPhone or Android
• Instagram vs. Twitter (or choose any other two social media platforms)

Descriptive Essay Topics for High School

Bring on the adjectives! Descriptive writing is all about creating a rich picture for the reader. Take readers on a journey to far-off places, help them understand an experience, or introduce them to a new person. Remember: Show, don’t tell. These topics make excellent descriptive essays.

• Who is the funniest person you know?
• What is your happiest memory?
• Tell about the most inspirational person in your life.
• Write about your favorite place.
• When you were little, what was your favorite thing to do?
• Choose a piece of art or music and explain how it makes you feel.
• What is your earliest memory?

• What’s the best/worst vacation you’ve ever taken?
• Describe your favorite pet.
• What is the most important item in the world to you?
• Give a tour of your bedroom (or another favorite room in your home).
• Describe yourself to someone who has never met you.
• Lay out your perfect day from start to finish.
• Explain what it’s like to move to a new town or start a new school.
• Tell what it would be like to live on the moon.

Expository and Informative Essay Topics for High School

Expository essays set out clear explanations of a particular topic. You might be defining a word or phrase or explaining how something works. Expository or informative essays are based on facts, and while you might explore different points of view, you won’t necessarily say which one is “better” or “right.” Remember: Expository essays educate the reader. Here are some expository and informative essay topics to explore. ( See 70+ expository and informative essay topics here. )

• What makes a good leader?
• Explain why a given school subject (math, history, science, etc.) is important for students to learn.
• What is the “glass ceiling” and how does it affect society?
• Describe how the internet changed the world.
• What does it mean to be a good teacher?

• Explain how we could colonize the moon or another planet.
• Discuss why mental health is just as important as physical health.
• Describe a healthy lifestyle for a teenager.
• Choose an American president and explain how their time in office affected the country.
• What does “financial responsibility” mean?

Humorous Essay Topics for High School

Humorous essays can take on any form, like narrative, persuasive, or expository. You might employ sarcasm or satire, or simply tell a story about a funny person or event. Even though these essay topics are lighthearted, they still take some skill to tackle well. Give these ideas a try.

• What would happen if cats (or any other animal) ruled the world?
• What do newborn babies wish their parents knew?
• Explain the best ways to be annoying on social media.
• Invent a wacky new sport, explain the rules, and describe a game or match.

• Imagine a discussion between two historic figures from very different times, like Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I.
• Retell a familiar story in tweets or other social media posts.
• Describe present-day Earth from an alien’s point of view.
• Choose a fictional character and explain why they should be the next president.
• Describe a day when kids are in charge of everything, at school and at home.

Literary essays analyze a piece of writing, like a book or a play. In high school, students usually write literary essays about the works they study in class. These literary essay topic ideas focus on books students often read in high school, but many of them can be tweaked to fit other works as well.

• Discuss the portrayal of women in Shakespeare’s Othello .
• Explore the symbolism used in The Scarlet Letter .
• Explain the importance of dreams in Of Mice and Men .
• Compare and contrast the romantic relationships in Pride and Prejudice .

• Dissect the allegory of Animal Farm and its relation to contemporary events.
• Interpret the author’s take on society and class structure in The Great Gatsby .
• Explore the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia.
• Discuss whether Shakespeare’s portrayal of young love in Romeo and Juliet is accurate.
• Explain the imagery used in Beowulf .

Narrative and Personal Essay Topics for High School

Think of a narrative essay like telling a story. Use some of the same techniques that you would for a descriptive essay, but be sure you have a beginning, middle, and end. A narrative essay doesn’t necessarily need to be personal, but they often are. Take inspiration from these narrative and personal essay topics.

• Describe a performance or sporting event you took part in.
• Explain the process of cooking and eating your favorite meal.
• Write about meeting your best friend for the first time and how your relationship developed.
• Tell about learning to ride a bike or drive a car.
• Describe a time in your life when you’ve been scared.

• Share the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you.
• Tell about a time when you overcame a big challenge.
• Tell the story of how you learned an important life lesson.
• Describe a time when you or someone you know experienced prejudice or oppression.
• Explain a family tradition, how it developed, and its importance today.
• What is your favorite holiday? How does your family celebrate it?
• Retell a familiar story from the point of view of a different character.
• Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
• Tell about your proudest moment.

Persuasive Essay Topics for High School

Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative , but they rely less on facts and more on emotion to sway the reader. It’s important to know your audience, so you can anticipate any counterarguments they might make and try to overcome them. Try these topics to persuade someone to come around to your point of view. ( Discover 60 more intriguing persuasive essay topics here. )

• Do you think homework should be required, optional, or not given at all?
• Everyone should be vegetarian or vegan.
• What animal makes the best pet?
• Visit an animal shelter, choose an animal that needs a home, and write an essay persuading someone to adopt that animal.
• Who is the world’s best athlete, present or past?
• Should little kids be allowed to play competitive sports?
• Are professional athletes/musicians/actors overpaid?
• The best music genre is …

• Is democracy the best form of government?
• Is capitalism the best form of economy?
• Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
• Should schools have dress codes?
• If I could change one school rule, it would be …
• Is year-round school a good idea?

A research essay is a classic high school assignment. These papers require deep research into primary source documents, with lots of supporting facts and evidence that’s properly cited. Research essays can be in any of the styles shown above. Here are some possible topics, across a variety of subjects.

• Which country’s style of government is best for the people who live there?
• Choose a country and analyze its development from founding to present day.
• Describe the causes and effects of a specific war.
• Formulate an ideal economic plan for our country.
• What scientific discovery has had the biggest impact on life today?

• Analyze the way mental health is viewed and treated in this country.
• Explore the ways systemic racism impacts people in all walks of life.
• Defend the importance of teaching music and the arts in public schools.
• Choose one animal from the endangered species list, and propose a realistic plan to protect it.

What are some of your favorite essay topics for high school? Come share your prompts on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the ultimate guide to student writing contests .

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• Example of a great essay | Explanations, tips & tricks

Example of a Great Essay | Explanations, Tips & Tricks

Published on February 9, 2015 by Shane Bryson . Revised on July 23, 2023 by Shona McCombes.

This example guides you through the structure of an essay. It shows how to build an effective introduction , focused paragraphs , clear transitions between ideas, and a strong conclusion .

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Other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about writing an essay, an appeal to the senses: the development of the braille system in nineteenth-century france.

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

In France, debates about how to deal with disability led to the adoption of different strategies over time. While people with temporary difficulties were able to access public welfare, the most common response to people with long-term disabilities, such as hearing or vision loss, was to group them together in institutions (Tombs, 1996). At first, a joint institute for the blind and deaf was created, and although the partnership was motivated more by financial considerations than by the well-being of the residents, the institute aimed to help people develop skills valuable to society (Weygand, 2009). Eventually blind institutions were separated from deaf institutions, and the focus shifted towards education of the blind, as was the case for the Royal Institute for Blind Youth, which Louis Braille attended (Jimenez et al, 2009). The growing acknowledgement of the uniqueness of different disabilities led to more targeted education strategies, fostering an environment in which the benefits of a specifically blind education could be more widely recognized.

Several different systems of tactile reading can be seen as forerunners to the method Louis Braille developed, but these systems were all developed based on the sighted system. The Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris taught the students to read embossed roman letters, a method created by the school’s founder, Valentin Hauy (Jimenez et al., 2009). Reading this way proved to be a rather arduous task, as the letters were difficult to distinguish by touch. The embossed letter method was based on the reading system of sighted people, with minimal adaptation for those with vision loss. As a result, this method did not gain significant success among blind students.

Louis Braille was bound to be influenced by his school’s founder, but the most influential pre-Braille tactile reading system was Charles Barbier’s night writing. A soldier in Napoleon’s army, Barbier developed a system in 1819 that used 12 dots with a five line musical staff (Kersten, 1997). His intention was to develop a system that would allow the military to communicate at night without the need for light (Herron, 2009). The code developed by Barbier was phonetic (Jimenez et al., 2009); in other words, the code was designed for sighted people and was based on the sounds of words, not on an actual alphabet. Barbier discovered that variants of raised dots within a square were the easiest method of reading by touch (Jimenez et al., 2009). This system proved effective for the transmission of short messages between military personnel, but the symbols were too large for the fingertip, greatly reducing the speed at which a message could be read (Herron, 2009). For this reason, it was unsuitable for daily use and was not widely adopted in the blind community.

Nevertheless, Barbier’s military dot system was more efficient than Hauy’s embossed letters, and it provided the framework within which Louis Braille developed his method. Barbier’s system, with its dashes and dots, could form over 4000 combinations (Jimenez et al., 2009). Compared to the 26 letters of the Latin alphabet, this was an absurdly high number. Braille kept the raised dot form, but developed a more manageable system that would reflect the sighted alphabet. He replaced Barbier’s dashes and dots with just six dots in a rectangular configuration (Jimenez et al., 2009). The result was that the blind population in France had a tactile reading system using dots (like Barbier’s) that was based on the structure of the sighted alphabet (like Hauy’s); crucially, this system was the first developed specifically for the purposes of the blind.

While the Braille system gained immediate popularity with the blind students at the Institute in Paris, it had to gain acceptance among the sighted before its adoption throughout France. This support was necessary because sighted teachers and leaders had ultimate control over the propagation of Braille resources. Many of the teachers at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth resisted learning Braille’s system because they found the tactile method of reading difficult to learn (Bullock & Galst, 2009). This resistance was symptomatic of the prevalent attitude that the blind population had to adapt to the sighted world rather than develop their own tools and methods. Over time, however, with the increasing impetus to make social contribution possible for all, teachers began to appreciate the usefulness of Braille’s system (Bullock & Galst, 2009), realizing that access to reading could help improve the productivity and integration of people with vision loss. It took approximately 30 years, but the French government eventually approved the Braille system, and it was established throughout the country (Bullock & Galst, 2009).

Although Blind people remained marginalized throughout the nineteenth century, the Braille system granted them growing opportunities for social participation. Most obviously, Braille allowed people with vision loss to read the same alphabet used by sighted people (Bullock & Galst, 2009), allowing them to participate in certain cultural experiences previously unavailable to them. Written works, such as books and poetry, had previously been inaccessible to the blind population without the aid of a reader, limiting their autonomy. As books began to be distributed in Braille, this barrier was reduced, enabling people with vision loss to access information autonomously. The closing of the gap between the abilities of blind and the sighted contributed to a gradual shift in blind people’s status, lessening the cultural perception of the blind as essentially different and facilitating greater social integration.

The Braille system also had important cultural effects beyond the sphere of written culture. Its invention later led to the development of a music notation system for the blind, although Louis Braille did not develop this system himself (Jimenez, et al., 2009). This development helped remove a cultural obstacle that had been introduced by the popularization of written musical notation in the early 1500s. While music had previously been an arena in which the blind could participate on equal footing, the transition from memory-based performance to notation-based performance meant that blind musicians were no longer able to compete with sighted musicians (Kersten, 1997). As a result, a tactile musical notation system became necessary for professional equality between blind and sighted musicians (Kersten, 1997).

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

Bullock, J. D., & Galst, J. M. (2009). The Story of Louis Braille. Archives of Ophthalmology , 127(11), 1532. https://​doi.org/10.1001/​archophthalmol.2009.286.

Herron, M. (2009, May 6). Blind visionary. Retrieved from https://​eandt.theiet.org/​content/​articles/2009/05/​blind-visionary/.

Jiménez, J., Olea, J., Torres, J., Alonso, I., Harder, D., & Fischer, K. (2009). Biography of Louis Braille and Invention of the Braille Alphabet. Survey of Ophthalmology , 54(1), 142–149. https://​doi.org/10.1016/​j.survophthal.2008.10.006.

Kersten, F.G. (1997). The history and development of Braille music methodology. The Bulletin of Historical Research in Music Education , 18(2). Retrieved from https://​www.jstor.org/​stable/40214926.

Mellor, C.M. (2006). Louis Braille: A touch of genius . Boston: National Braille Press.

Tombs, R. (1996). France: 1814-1914 . London: Pearson Education Ltd.

Weygand, Z. (2009). The blind in French society from the Middle Ages to the century of Louis Braille . Stanford: Stanford University Press.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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How to Finish High School

Last Updated: January 1, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Desiree Panlilio . Desiree Panlilio is a Teen Life Coach and the Owner of Encouraging Teens, LLC. With over three years of experience, she specializes in helping teens and young adults define roles, set goals, develop healthy academic and personal habits, grow in leadership potential, and create their life paths. Desiree holds a BSN in Nursing from The University of Victoria and an MA in Human Services Counseling with a concentration in Life Coaching from Liberty University. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 11 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 146,141 times.

Having a high school diploma, GED, HiSET, or TASC credential opens up a world of opportunities that are otherwise unavailable to people who haven't finished high school including being able to go to technical/trade school, college or university and enlisting in the military. Often, going back to finish high school can take more dedication than completing it the first time around. Unlike most traditional high schoolers, you might have kids to look after, bills to pay and a job to juggle. But there are more options than ever before to make the process of getting a diploma as smooth as possible. See Step 1 and beyond to learn more about earning your diploma online, enrolling in a GED program or going to a brick and mortar school to take classes.

Earning a Diploma Online

Many people who left high school years earlier find it convenient to pursue their degree online, which allows them to work at their own pace, on their own time. There are as many types of online schools to choose from as there are brick and mortar schools, and accredited online high schools offer the exact same type of diploma. This is a great choice for highly motivated, independent students.

• Many states offer public online high school programs that are completely tuition free. In some cases, computer equipment and internet access is also compensated.
• Private online high schools often cater to particular groups of students, such as older students or those from a particular religious groups. These schools normally charge tuition, but financial aid is often available.
• Some colleges and universities offer online high school diploma programs. These are often geared toward students who wish to go on to enroll in the college after completing the high school program.

• Many online programs use video conferencing technology to share lectures and facilitate discussions. You'll interact with your other classmates as well as the teacher.
• Some online programs also offer (or require) participation in science experiments, field trips, and other in-person events.
• Many programs have a physical education requirement, which you can usually fulfill on your own time.

Getting a GED

GED stands for General Educational Development, and it's a test developed by the American Council on Education (ACE) that measures whether a person has knowledge equivalent to that of someone who graduated from high school. The GED, HISET and TASC High School Equivalency credentials are accepted as a replacement for a high school diploma at 95 percent of universities and most employers.

• The writing section tests skills in grammar, vocabulary, spelling and capitalization, with a separate written essay section.
• The math section tests skills in arithmetic, measurement, basic algebra, geometry, number relations, trigonometry and data analysis of charts and graphs.
• The social studies section tests knowledge of geography, civics and government and economics.
• The science section tests knowledge of life science, physical science and earth science.
• The reading section tests proficiency in sentence structure, reading comprehension and language usage.

• Make sure to take plenty of practice tests so you get used to the test format.
• Double down on any areas where your knowledge is weaker, and consider getting tutoring in that subject area.
• You can enroll in GED, HiSET or TASC preparation classes at any community college in NC for free, or hire a GED tutor to help you prepare.

• Make sure you get a good night's sleep before the test. This makes a huge difference when it comes to concentration.
• You'll probably get a lunch break, but be sure to eat a hearty breakfast so you don't get distracted by hunger during the test.
• Follow the test administrator's instructions closely. Breaking any rules, even accidentally, could cause you to get disqualified from taking the test that day.

Going Back to High School

In some cases, attending an adult high school or night school could be the best way to earn the credits you need to get your high school diploma. If you'd like to take traditional high school classes, and you learn best in a regular classroom, this option might be a great one for you.

• When you enroll, you will probably be set up with an advisor, who can look through your transcript and help you make sure you get the credits you need.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://edsource.org/2017/no-high-school-diploma-youve-got-options/582040
• ↑ https://www.test-guide.com/ged-requirements-by-state.html
• ↑ https://www.collegetransfer.net/AskCT/WhatisaGED
• ↑ Desiree Panlilio. Teen Life Coach. Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.

About This Article

Even if you didn’t finish high school, there are several paths you can take to get your diploma. If you’re interested in taking online classes or returning to a traditional brick-and-mortar school, contact your original school or your state’s Department of Education to get a copy of your high school transcripts, and use that to determine how many credits you need. If you’d rather not take any more classes, find out your state’s requirement for earning your GED, which is an equivalent to a high school diploma. For tips on how to find an accredited online program, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Ielts essay # 49 - young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, in some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies..

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Gap Year Advantages Disadvantages IELTS Essay

Gap year advantages disadvantages ielts writing task 2.

You should spend around 40 minutes on this task.

Many students choose to take a gap year before starting university, to travel or gain work experience.  Do you think this is a good idea or a waste of time? You should write at least 250 words.

Many students choose to take a gap year IELTS Essay

Model Answers 1:

The majority of students start their degree in the same year as finishing school or college. Some students, however, choose to take a year out before starting university. In my opinion, this is a very good idea if the time is used wisely in order to gain new skills or knowledge. In the following essay, I will discuss this idea further.

It is very important that, when a gap year is taken, the time is not wasted but used productively. It would not look very impressive to a future employer if the time was simply used to take a break. This does not mean to say that a gap year should not be enjoyed.

Many people choose to go traveling during their gap year. This can be very beneficial to the individual as it exposes them to new ideas and cultures. It can also mean that they are able to learn a new language. Other students decide to gain work experience during this year. This can be particularly useful, especially if connected to their chosen area of study. Often, students who have worked before attending university appreciate their course more, as they are able to understand the relevance of what is being taught.

Overall, therefore, as discussed in this essay, there can be several benefits to taking a gap year. It is very important, however, that this time is used wisely and not wasted. This means that the year needs to be planned carefully in advance to get the most from the experience.

[253 words]

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

You should write at least 250 words.

Gap Year Advantages Disadvantages

In many countries, youngsters are often encouraged to take an year off, to work or travel across the world, before embarking on their formal university education. This recent trend, also known as “gap – year”, has numerous merits and a few demerits, which will be discussed in this essay.

To begin with, the biggest advantage of taking sabbatical to explore the world is that it gives them an opportunity to discover their career interest. Such trips are not only fun , but also gives them a chance to socialise , engage in volunteering, and understand global issues and global culture . This helps them to discover their real passion which is the foundation stone for a fulfilling career. For instance, data from Harvard University, 2010, pointed out that drop-out rate from university courses is around 10 percent less in those children who chose the course after taking a “gap year” in comparison to those who headed straight to university after the high school.

In addition to this, working for a year before starting university reduces the financial burden of higher education to an extent. As the advanced studies are costly in most countries, working for a year helps them in saving money so they have to borrow less money and are under less financial debt, when they start higher studies.

In contrast to above viewpoints, the most significant disadvantage of such a break is that it can be a distraction from further studies. Some students find such breaks so relaxing and enjoyable that they decide to shun further studies permanently.

Although the incidences of such cases are few, the effects can be disastrous for their further career. For instance, a 2010 report from Florida University revealed that 1 in 100 students, who take “Gap-year” never go for advanced studies and struggle throughout their life to make the ends meet because of being unskilled.

To conclude, the break of a year taken before pursuing university studies helps students to discover their career interest and also allows them to consolidate financially. However, for a minority of high school graduates it can lead to an end of an academic career .

[357 words]

Gap Year in Students Advantages Disadvantages

Taking a “gap year” off between high school and university has become a popular option among many young people. This time off provides a break after many years of formal study. Some students use this time to travel around the world, others volunteer and still others begin working. The idea behind each of these activities is to do something hands-on and refreshing, which enables young people to learn more about themselves and their place in the world around them.

The benefits of taking a year off are plentiful. On a personal level, students who travel away from home develop their independence and self-confidence. On a cultural level, they learn about viewpoints, traditions and perspectives different from their own. Professionally, students get a taste of diverse workplaces, which might inspire a possible career interest. Intellectually, they examine their own beliefs and ideas in relation to those of others in a new environment. All these advantages combine to make a strong case for taking the one-year break.

Nevertheless, there are also dangers involved in taking such a long break. Academically, the main drawback is that students can get sidetracked from their studies. A year is a long time and students could lose the good study habits and sense of discipline they had when they were in a formal academic structure. If they begin working, they could also be deluded into thinking that they’re making a lot of money. They could lose the benefit of college or university education and the chance to earn a higher income all their lives.

In conclusion, whether to take a year-long break or not is an individual decision. Each young person should consider his or her motivations carefully and decide on what’s most desirable. Time is a precious resource and people of all ages, including young people, should treat it with respect.

[305 words]

Gap Year Before Starting a University IELTS Essay

In certain countries some people think that students who just finished high school should take a year off for travelling or working before they enroll in a university. In my opinion, there are both advantages and disadvantages to taking a gap year.

There are a number of drawbacks to taking a year off to travel or work between high school and university. Firstly, if young people decide to work, they might get used to receiving an income and because of this there is a possibility that they do not want to come back to the student life anymore. Secondly, most of the students are too young to travel by themselves; therefore they could waste this opportunity because of their naivety.  Finally, traveling for a whole year requires a huge amount of money which could be spent on university studies.

On the other hand, there are some benefits to spending a year working or traveling before joining university. To begin with, young people broaden their minds when they travel and this might help them to gain valuable experiences in life. A further positive aspect is that while traveling or working, young people could acquire maturity and this could allow them to perform better once they return to their studies. A final benefit is that young people will probably learn some skills such as speaking a different language. They will also learn to appreciate other countries and cultures.

Overall, there are as many advantages as there are disadvantages to traveling or working between high school and university. In my opinion, it all depends on the students’ intellectual and emotional maturity to face this challenge and take advantage of it.

Some students take a year off between school and university to work and travel. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? You should write at least 250 words.

Students take a year off between school and university IELTS Essay

These days many students who have completed their high school take one or two years off before starting university. They either work or travel during this time. In my opinion, this arrangement has both advantages and disadvantages.

When students take years off after finishing school, their attention shifts to other areas. Some might travel and some might work. While traveling is exciting and helps them learn more about other countries or people, it does not do much to improve their career prospects. And those who take up a job immediately after finishing school will most probably have to work in the unskilled sector. Since these jobs are more likely to earn them some money and make them financially independent, they might just stick to them. Unfortunately, this will not help in the long term because unskilled workers will have to be content with low salaries and benefits.

However, those students who eventually return to their studies after taking a year’s gap will benefit if they can focus on their studies. The valuable work experience they gained or the lessons they learned from their travels will improve their career prospects. And when they are ready to start work after finishing university, they will have employers queuing up to hire them. Unfortunately, many of these students who take time off after school will never join university. Those who join a university may find it difficult to focus on their studies. Many of them will drop out and return to their previous job.

To conclude, taking a year off has both benefits and drawbacks. Traveling around the world or taking up a job has several benefits. Travel, for example, will enhance one’s horizons and improve one’s perspectives on life. In the same way, part time or full time jobs equip students with valuable skills that will stand them in good stead. However, a university education is still required to find a good job and students who do not start university after taking a year off will only hamper their career prospects.

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New Data Paint Bleak Picture of Students’ Post High School Outcomes

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For many students who enroll in higher education after high school, a typical “four-year” degree can take twice as long to earn—if they complete it at all.

The findings come from the new federal High School Longitudinal Study, which has tracked a nationally representative sample of more than 20,000 students who entered 9th grade in more than 900 public and private schools in 2009. The new data, collected in 2021, looks at whether students have enrolled and completed different kinds of higher education—and paid for it—as much as eight years after graduating high school.

For example, of the students who started a bachelor’s degree program right after high school in 2013, only 45 percent earned a degree in four years. Sixty-five percent finished in twice that amount of time, leaving more than a third with course time but no credentials eight years later.

The disparities were particularly stark for Black and Pacific Islander students, who were more likely than other student groups to enroll in a higher education program then find themselves unable to complete it.

More time means more tuition, and the study finds students received relatively little federal support for higher education. The Education Data Initiative estimated the average cost of a four-year college was $36,436 per student per year as of 2023, including tuition, books, supplies, and daily living expenses. In-state, public tuition alone averaged nearly $9,700 per year.

That means dragging out the time needed to complete a bachelor’s degree could drive up the total cost by $38,000—not counting fees, interest, living expenses, or income lost from entering the workforce later. The IES study found a little more than 60 percent of students received a federal student loan, and about the same share earned a Pell Grant, awarded to low-income students. Those who got federal student loans received an average of $17,900 total, and low-income students who received Pell Grants received on average only $10,800.

Some students got a boost from dual enrollment

High schools that allowed their students to begin earning credits for college did give their students a leg up, the data suggest.

Among the students who enrolled in higher education, those who had participated in high school duel enrollment made up nearly a third of those who completed their degree or certification, the data show. Dual enrollment students made up only 17 percent of students who enrolled but never completed a certificate or degree. Students who started taking college courses in high school accounted for more than twice the share of Black and Hispanic students who completed higher education as noncompleters.

The federal data also show girls continuing to outpace boys in higher education credentials, regardless of the kind.

High school links matter for science fields

Among students who entered 9th grade in 2009 and completed some kind of postsecondary degree or credential, those with at least a 3.5 grade point average in high school were at least 10 percentage points more likely to earn a STEM credential than those with lower GPAs.

Math achievement was particularly important; more than a third of students who performed in the highest quintile in math went into a STEM field in higher education, versus 12.5 percent or less of students who didn’t perform as well in math.

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