If not post-secondary, then what?

According to Statistics Canada, 75% of Canadians eventually earn a post-secondary qualification (degree, diploma or trade certificate)*, and many families view the immediate, linear movement toward some form of post-secondary career training to be a natural, anticipated step for a young high school graduate.  A formal post-secondary education is not desired nor will it meet the needs of all students, however.  Even among high school students who do have aspirations for further education, there are a growing number choosing not to enter the post-secondary education system directly from high school. 

Financial instability and the high cost of education, poor grades, personal challenges or family-related factors often play a role in a student’s choice to forego a post-secondary education.  Finding a job may be more important and sensible at the time, whether returning to school at some later point may be in the cards or not.  Indeed, a young worker with particular interests need not be stymied by a lack of formal education, instead slowly working their way toward a career that offers them fulfilment by seeking out learning resources and unofficial training opportunities, volunteering in areas related to that sector, developing connections and networking, and applying for introductory-level jobs in that field whenever possible.  Schooling is not necessarily the only way to achieve career satisfaction.

More and more high school students see the benefits of earning a trades certificate for the many high-demand industrial, construction, motive power or service sector careers.  The training process for the trades can be undertaken through a college program, or can involve mainly learning on the job while doing paid work with a sponsoring employer.  Employment Ontario offers information and assistance with the apprenticeship process, job placement, and funding available for both apprentices and their employers (https://www.ontario.ca/page/employment-ontario).

Those without personal, academic or financial constraints to starting post-secondary may still choose to delay their educational pursuits for a few months or even several years for various reasons.  These students very often choose to wait because they are unsure of a career direction and/or the post-secondary pathways that will suit them;  others may simply prefer to expand their personal growth and experiences — or perhaps their savings — before settling back into a formal educational routine.  Taking a gap year after high school has become a common alternative.

For some parents, the concept of taking a gap year may seem like an unwarranted delay or setback in their child’s educational process.  In reality, however, a gap year that is purposefully undertaken as an opportunity for the exploration of new experiences and responsibilities and the growth of social, emotional and self-regulatory skills can have an incredibly positive effect on a young person’s life.  The time spent between high school and post-secondary can be spent working, volunteering, travelling… in short, experiencing a different kind of learning.

There are many organizations that can help students plan for a constructive gap year experience.  The Canadian Gap Year Association (https://www.cangap.ca/) offers information, resources, workshops, coaching and other tools to help students determine whether a gap year might be a good choice for them and, if so, to plan for a positive growth experience.   A list of partner organizations, such as Katimavik (https://katimavik.org/), Official Languages Programs (https://englishfrench.ca/) and Outward Bound (https://outwardbound.org), can also be accessed through CanGap.  Of course, a purposeful, well-planned gap year does not have to involve participation in an organized program; many students find new, insightful learning experiences that meet their personal needs on their own, and in their own neighbourhoods.

An understanding of all the post-graduation options available — including routes that do not involve continuing into a post-secondary program — can eventually lead a high school student to both personal growth and a rewarding career.  More detailed information on pathways for students who don’t feel ready or are not interested in heading directly into post-secondary is available in Ready to Launch:  Navigating the Transition from High School to Post-Secondary Life – A Guide for Ontario Students and Parents.