Think back to when you were in high school. Did you know what you wanted to do for a living? Did you know how to get started in your professional pursuits?If you’re like me, the only option I knew of after high school was attending college and then getting a job.It didn’t take long for my plans to change. I started a traditional career then married an active duty Army National Guard soldier and started life as a military spouse. Frequent relocations wreaked havoc on my career. I did complete a college degree, but in a nontraditional way over a period of many years. My professional path has been a rich journey of pivots, pauses, diversions and restarts.College is a great opportunity for many, but it is far from being the only choice. Had I known of other options earlier on, my career story may have been much different.Today's high school students have a wealth of resources available to help them explore, prepare, train and be aware of what career options might be a good fit for their future. As a Work-Based Learning Coordinator, I connect students to the community and career resources through activities like mock interviews, job shadows, internships and apprenticeships.