These high schoolers show how 'majors' are not just for college students

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Set us as preferred Many high schoolers are finding out that majors are not just for college students.Linked Learning Alliance, a California nonprofit that partners with school districts to improve education, offers over 600 “pathways” — similar to a college major, but targeted to high school — to over 330,000 students in more than 80 school districts statewide.Pathways range across fields including engineering, information technology, agriculture, public policy and entertainment.

High school students choose a career theme and their classes are tailored around that interest.Linked Learning steps in by partnering with schools and guiding students on how to earn college credit through dual community college enrollment, internships and industry certifications.

The organization also connects students with industry professionals, who often speak at their school.A recent survey by the group showed that student participation and interest in exploring career pathways is increasing and the vast majority of participants said they found the experience valuable to their high school education.“The voices of young people are the most important voices” for Linked Learning Alliance president Anne Stanton.

“What do young people feel like? How are they experiencing this? Because ultimately, that’s what we’re interested in.”Students overwhelmingly said exploring career interests is helping them make successful transitions into adulthood.“I felt deeply connected to my learning when I used professional tools and programs to complete assignments.It was meaningful because it allowed me to feel like an actual expert,” said a Los Angeles Unified 10th-grader in an anonymous survey response.Another 10th-grader said that the first time they walked into the biomedical classroom they realized “all the possible options of caree...