Education Beyond Highschool

By Aric Harris

We are capable of more than we think, we just need the right know-how from the right sources to grow.

We've all heard success stories from individuals who have found financial freedom and happiness. But what those stories tend to gloss over is the HOW. The little details on what it took to reach that happiness. All these people had grit and determination sure, but what really allowed them to apply that tenacity was the education and help they received along the way. Education and help, it turns out, that is available to all of us.

We all face stress and challenges, especially as we graduate, but life is also full of so many opportunities. All too often though students around the world are completely unaware of these opportunities and fail to take advantage of them, missing out on what could have been a fulfilling and fun jump start to their future careers. It's not that these opportunities are hidden or exclusive, just that many have never heard of them, or heard of them but felt that they were for 'other people' due to some misconception.

Education Beyond High School will clear up any misunderstandings by showing a host of courses and programs that many others have taken to achieve their own dreams. From College to Military Careers, MOOC's to Mentoring, this book looks at the multiple choices and options available to everyone and presents quotes and inspirational words from real people who have taken these options and made their dreams come true.

This book looks at the pros as well as cons, costs, and time commitment that are associated with each opportunity to allow reader to make an informed decision about their educational future.

Great not only for those graduating high school, but for anyone looking to change careers, start your own business, or just improve your mind, Education Beyond High School shows us that education is not out of reach for anyone, regardless of financial background or age. Whether you are 18 or 80, rich or poor, it is never too early or too late to start seeking help to begin building your own future. Learning never ends, so make sure you find the right teachers along your way to ensure you have the best chances to make the most out of this life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aric Harris
• Release date: Dec 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463865712

Aric Harris

Aric Yuji Harris was born December 12th, 1979 and grew up exposed to a wide array of experiences. From horse back riding, skydiving, getting his black belt in Aikido, to earning his Eagle in the Boy Scouts. He has always believed in the value of a well rounded education. Graduating from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2003 he has since started his own real estate investment company as well as worked as a drafter for the largest medical insurance company in the state. He has continued his education well after college by seeking out mentors and other entrepreneurs and as result has written this book, Education Beyond High School, to share what he has learned. 'A wise man learns from his mistakes, a genius learns from the mistakes of others.' No matter how young of old, you can always learn something new if you go out and look for it!

Book preview

EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL

Careers, Programs, and Options Available For Everyone

ARIC Y. HARRIS

Copyright © 2015 ARIC Y. HARRIS

All rights reserved.

ISBN is 9780463865712

TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

This is only possible because of the love and support I received from my family, and the knowledge and guidance of my teachers and mentors.

To my Mom, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your patience and care.

And to my Dad, I know you are watching down on all of us, thank you for all you’ve done to prepare us for the world.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

3. WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

4. COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES

5. GAP YEAR

6. MENTORSHIPS

7. APPRENTICESHIPS

8. INTERNSHIPS

9. M.O.O.C

10. VOLUNTEERING

11. MILITARY CAREERS

12. CONCLUSION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my teachers and mentors, too many to mention, but without whom I would not have gotten as far as I have.

Special thanks to Tabata Sensei who taught me perseverance and to smile no matter what the challenges life presents you with. You were strict, but you never pushed me more than I could handle.

Also to Doug Bench, The Brain Training Guy for inspiring me to take the plunge to write my own book.

And to Mr. Paul Xavier who guided me throughout my own business. You went above and beyond to show me the ropes but always treated me and everyone else with the utmost respect and dignity, and to whom this book would not be possible.

1 INRODUCTION

High school is coming to an end and you may think that you only have one path before you. But what other options do you have? There are actually several other choices out there that can provide you with a fulfilling and satisfying career later in life, but how do you know what is right for you?

In order to get anywhere in life you need goals - you need a clear picture of where you want to end up and how to get there. Keep in mind, the body cannot go where the mind has not been to first. Visualize where you want to go and what you want to do first. As you leave high school, having a good idea of what you want for yourself in life will help you define your goals, design your plan, and determine what to do next in your life. You might know exactly what you want to do for a career or to start your own business; on the other hand you might just know the kind of lifestyle you want or what is most important to you – but not how to get it. Either way, once you start to carry out that plan, chances are you’ll see that you still have a lot to learn. This is why your education never really ends – and whatever path you choose, your goals will keep moving like the horizon and you’ll need to know how to keep learning to keep up! Education is your vehicle to reach whatever it is you wish to achieve. Life moves fast, do you have a vehicle fast enough to keep up?

World-renowned business leader and regional Vice President of Asia Sales for ACN (a global leader in network marketing), Danny Bae asked this question to a room:

If you had two drivers, an average driver and a professional race car driver, and told them to race, who do you think would win?

Obviously you’d think that professional would win. But then he added:

But we’re going to give the average driver a Lamborghini that can go 150 miles per hour in 5 seconds and all he has to do is just press the gas pedal down, while we give the professional an old pickup truck that only goes to 75mph (and by then it is shaking like crazy and feels like it’s going to fall apart), now who would win?

Now it is obvious that the average driver will win. How many times have you seen someone less talented than you, not as smart as you, lazier than you, maybe not even as good a human being as you, become more successful than you? It is not that they are a better person, but that they have a better vehicle to get through life.

Where you will be getting your education from and who will you be surrounding yourself with after High School will provide you with what you need to get to where you will want to be in your life – if you choose them carefully. Education should be much more than just dry facts and numbers, it needs to provide you with a strong social network, job experience, hands-on training, and opportunities for personal development and employment. It should fill your head with positive information and experiences to help you make the most out of who you are and grow you to become the person you want to be.

Education is the best provision for life's journey.

Aristotle, Classical Philosopher

So what’s the best path for you?

Just as there are many different types of cars out there, there are an equal number of roads your life can take. Will the road you travel down be full of twists and turns? Then you will want something that can take corners more than just pure acceleration. Maybe you’ll have more of an uphill challenge? Chances are you’ll want something with more power. Maybe you’ve got a plan and it’s just a straight shot between you and your dream? Then you’ll want to just speed towards it with no regrets. Fact is, there is no one single solution to fit every single person out there. That is why we have choices, and why you need to think carefully about what it is you are looking for and if your choice of education will give you the tools necessary to achieve it. Here we will briefly go over Colleges, Gap Year’s, Mentorships, Internships, Apprenticeships, Massive Open Online Course’s (M.O.O.C), Volunteering, and Military Careers. Each has their advantages and disadvantages, each can provide you with valuable life experiences. Take the time to reflect on where you are right now, and where you want to be at the end of your journey.

So which one will make me the most money?

All of them. There are plenty of examples of people becoming wealthy from each educational choice. Like the woman who learned to repair tractors in community college and is now a millionaire with multiple tractor repair shops. Over 80% of all millionaires have a college degree, but quite a few got rich in fields they never studied in college. Some of the most famous people you know dropped out of college and instead took on mentorships. There are U.S. Senators who took apprenticeships and CEO’s who started out as interns. Even if you just look around at the best neighborhoods in your area, who lives there? Sure, there will be doctors and lawyers, but that’s not all. There will be self-starters, people who built their own businesses, and we don’t just