Empowering Students to Define Their Own Path

In my role as a Career Internship Educator, I recently had a moment that truly reinforced my belief in the value of personalized, non-linear post-secondary pathways. During an internship reflection review with a senior and her supervisor, we were waiting for the supervisor to join the call. To break the ice, I asked the student about her plans for next year. Notice I didn’t ask, “What college are you going to?”—a question that often carries unnecessary pressure and assumes a one-size-fits-all approach to life after high school.

Her answer was inspiring: she confidently shared that she plans to take a gap year to travel to Africa, where she’ll teach English and immerse herself in the local culture. YES! This response filled me with hope and excitement. Here was a young person who had taken the time to reflect on her goals and interests and had decided to prioritize personal growth and experiential learning before committing to her next academic or career step.

I’m not anti-college. Far from it. Higher education can be a transformative experience for many. But I firmly believe that it’s not the right path for everyone—and it doesn’t have to happen immediately after high school. What truly excites me is seeing students like this one who are confident enough to carve their own path, to be curious about the world, and to invest in understanding themselves through experiences that extend beyond the classroom.

This interaction reminded me why we need to champion a broader definition of success in education. The traditional “go to college, get a job” narrative doesn’t account for the myriad ways young people can develop the durable skills and life experiences they’ll need to thrive. Taking a gap year, pursuing an internship, joining a service program, or even jumping straight into the workforce can all be valid and valuable ways to learn and grow.

This student’s journey is a glimpse into the future of education—a future where young people are empowered to explore, take risks, and make intentional choices about their learning journeys. As educators, parents, and mentors, we should be encouraging this kind of confidence and curiosity, not boxing students into outdated expectations.

Let’s celebrate these moments when young people take ownership of their futures. Let’s create systems that support diverse pathways and acknowledge that there is no single "right" way to learn, grow, and succeed. Because when students are given the freedom to explore who they are and what they want, they become not just lifelong learners but lifelong contributors to a better world.

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