What do you want to be?

Do you see yourself as the next great American inventor? Maybe you’re thinking about becoming a lawyer, an architect, a filmmaker or a photographer. There are as manycareeroptions out there as there are stars in the sky, so when it comes to your future — think big! You may change your mind about a career as you get older, but it’s important to have information about all types of careers as early in life as possible. Whatever you want to do, educationbeyond high school can help you make the most of your life.

You can find information on all types of careers, and the education and training needed for each, at the websites listed below. You can explore other resources, or talk with someone who does this type of work, to find out even more about what you want to be. After you’ve researched the career you’re interested in, follow the instructions for writing an essay. Essay Instructions ? The essay should be 200 to 300 words. (That’s about as long as these instructions, without the websites listed below. ) Be creative — make up your own title.

Include your name. Tell us what career is of interest to you and why. What type of education or training will you need for the career? What are the opportunities for this type of work in the future? Tell us what steps you took to learn about this career. Don’t forget to pay attention to spelling and grammar while writing the essay. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? You can also view these instructions and the websites below at www. MatchThePromise. org. (Your parents can find information on essay scoring criteria on Page 5 of the Description and Application Instructions. Dream big! The future is waiting for you. Helpful Career Websites http://www. careeronestop. org/StudentsandCareerAdvisors/ExploreCareersStudents. aspx CareerOneStop Explore occupations and industries to plan your future. Sponsored by the U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Kids. gov http://kids. usa. gov/teens-home/jobs/index. shtml View occupations in different career fields. From the U. S. General Services Administration, Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies. My Next Move http://www. ynextmove. org Describe yourdream careerin a few words, browse careers by industry or answer questions about work you might enjoy. Also find careers with a bright outlook. Created for the U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, by the National Center for O*NET Development. (continued on back) Susan Combs Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts CAREER ESSAY Helpful Career Websites (cont’d) What Do You Like? http://www. bls. gov/k12/ Explore career information based on what you like to do. Kids’ career pages from the U.

S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook http://www. bls. gov/ooh Search by occupation group, or search by pay, education, training and projected growth rate, to find information for hundreds of different careers. From the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Every Chance Every Texan http://everychanceeverytexan. org/texasjobs/ View top jobs in Texas, and the education and training needed for each. Also view the state’s top industries. From the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Texas Reality Check http://www. texasrealitycheck. com When you’re out on your own, you’ll need to pay for housing, transportation, clothes, entertainment and other expenses. Find out how muchmoneyyou might need and which careers will pay for those needs. Brought to you by the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Education Agency. Texas CARES http://www. texascaresonline. com/wowmenu. asp Explore opportunities based on your work values and interests. Search by career title, occupation group, keyword and more. Also find out about new and emerging careers.

From the Texas Workforce Commission. BigFuture https://bigfuture. collegeboard. org/majors-careers Explore college majors and career options. Also select an interest to explore related careers. By The College Board. CareerShip http://mappingyourfuture. org/planyourcareer/careership/ Match your career interests, review careers by clusters (occupations and industries that share common features) or search by keyword. Product of Mapping Your Future, a public-service website. Susan Combs Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts 96-1724 (9/12)