WHAT DO I DO AFTER HIGH SCHOOL? WHITE COLLAR, BLUE COLLAR, OR NO COLLAR

D'Aversa offers a guidebook to building a professional life after high school.

Over a career of more than 25 years as an educator and career coach, the author has seen, many times, the frozen responses of high school students to one simple question: What are you going to do after high school? Tailoring his book to high school juniors and seniors, D'Aversa breaks down the process of career-path decision-making into four categories: “the journey” (“before you can choose a path, you need to know who you are”: no small thing), “the decision” about what to do, “the real world” (the nuances of cover letters, interviews, and other practical skills; this will be the heart of the book for many readers), and finally, “your destination,” parting advice on what the author calls the most important work any young person can do: “The work of figuring out who you are, what you want, and how to build a life that reflects both.” Every section of this oversize book includes exercises and worksheets (D'Aversa stresses at the outset that readers should write in the book) that break down the information into component parts. When discussing crafting a “personal brand statement,” for example, the author introduces the acronym “OARS,” standing for Objective, Action, Result, and Statement. He also covers more interpersonal topics in detail, as in the example of handling “a no gracefully”: “Thank the person genuinely, leave the door open for future connection.” D'Aversa’s text is eminently readable and convincing at every stage; the author’s long experience is evident throughout. He wisely urges readers to assess what he calls “the real cost” of whatever choice they make; for every possibility, he provides pages and pages of helpful, practical advice about things to do and mistakes to avoid, much of it invaluable.

An inviting and extremely useful workbook for figuring out what to do with your life.