As things begin to open back up this summer, its a great time to start thinking about future goals – like getting hired for a job, pursuing higher education, and generally planning for *adulthood* (insert screaming emoji here).
We are certainly not suggesting you skip the fun this summer, but you can still spend a little time each day to work towards your future goals.
Poudre River Public Library District offers tools and resources to help lay the foundation of your future success. If you want to gain adulting skills, from learning to drive to applying to the college of your dreams, the library’s print and online resources can help you prepare for your next steps.
This post was UPDATED on 6/30/21.
Goal: Get a driver’s license
Driving-Tests.org
Driving-Tests.org is designed to help new drivers study state manuals and take driving practice tests based on the real DMV written exams. Provided are free tests, written specifically based on the Colorado DMV materials. Accessibility tools are also available to assist with vision and hearing.
Goal: Get a job and start making financial plans
Brainfuse JobNow!
Live, anytime, anywhere job assistance, including up-to-date nation-wide and local job search engines and proven interview techniques. Receive live job coaching, real-time interview practice, full-service resume lab, 24/7 access to local job resources and more! JobNow resources include resume templates and, professional resume critique; plus the opportunity to connect with a job coach to practice interviewing.
Jump$tart
Jump$tart is a national coalition of organizations dedicated to improving the financial literacy of pre-kindergarten through college-age youth by providing advocacy, research, standards and educational resources. Jump$tart strives to prepare youth for life-long, successful, financial decision-making.
Don’t Wear Flip-Flops to Your Interview: and Other Obvious Tips that You Should Be Following to Get the Job You Want by Dr. Paul Powers
Powers asked successful job hunters a few basic but important questions: What do you wish someone had told you when you started your job search? What (obvious or not-so-obvious) job hunting mistake will you never make again? What job hunting tip, secret, or technique would you stress to your very best friend? The result is a book packed with strategies and techniques that are practical, market proven, easy to use, and often humorous.
Goal: Make a plan for after high school graduation
Assess your talents and interests and learn about advanced education and career options.
Career Cruising
Identify work interests, plan education and training, and view available jobs through Career Cruising’s platform of tools including comprehensive college, university, and vocational school information. Keep track of personalized career exploration through the My Plan portal.
Teens’ Guide to College & Career Planning: Your High School Roadmap for College & Career Success
(Print or eBook, available on Overdrive)
A must-have guide for middle school and high school students as they prepare for life after graduation. Throughout the book, find real-life advice from students, guidance counselors, parents, and college admissions counselors; helpful checklists and worksheets, information to decide if the military is right for you; financial aid advice and information on scholarships, grants, athletic awards, loans, work-study, and more.
Cash Poor or College? The Essential Guide to College Admissions for Teens (Ages 13 to 18) & Their Parents
(eAudiobook, available on hoopla)
A blueprint for mapping a pathway to college. It offers teens a strategic approach to accessing higher education by utilizing the entire high school experience to maximum benefit. Each year is given singular focus so that the relevant information and assignments the student needs to know are discussed. The guide helps teens to lay a solid foundation in the first two years of high school, so that they are well prepared and informed for the later stages of college search.
Choose Your Own Career Adventure in the Military
(eBook, Available on hoopla)
What do people do in the military? Readers pick from eight different scenarios and experience “next best thing to being there yourself” opportunities for interactive career exploration. Sidebars promote additional learning activities and independent research.
Goal: Practice taking college and career exams
LearningExpress
With LearningExpress, you’ll find helpful information on a wide variety of vocational careers and instantly scored practice tests based on the official exams in healthcare, culinary arts, law enforcement, legal careers, nursing, and education. You’ll also find instantly scored college admission practice tests, including ACT, SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, AP, TOEFL iBT, IELTS.
Brainfuse Help Now
With Brainfuse HelpNow you can interact with live tutors for PSAT/SAT, ACT, AP and state standardized tests. Through the Test center, you can visit our online assessment library to take practice quizzes in standardized tests (SAT, ACT, GED and more) and practice subject specific tests, like math and science. Get results instantly and, if you choose, share your results with one of their tutors for a targeted skills building session.
McGraw-Hill’s SAT, 2011 Edition
(eBook, available through Overdrive)
McGraw-Hill’s SAT gives you full-length practice SATs in the book and online, model essays, samples questions with explanations, test-taking strategies, techniques to help you create your most effective study plan and online help including practice SATs, test-taking tips, and more
Test Prep: ACT with Vince Kotchian
(Video tutorial available on LinkedIn Learning)
Explore the key components of the test and learn study strategies and test-taking tips to improve your score. He also shows how to handle questions in the English, math, reading comprehension, and science sections of the exam. Finally, he provides guidance on writing a great ACT essay and on how to jump-start your study plan.
Goal: Work on your scholarship and application essays
Write Your Way into College: College Admissions Essay
(eBook, Available on Learning Express)
A guide for you through the toughest part of the college application process—the personal essay. This eBook provides all the practice, review, and strategies you need to write a great application.
Proofreading, Revising, & Editing Skills Success in 20 Minutes a Day
(eBook, Available on Learning Express)
In this eBook, you’ll learn the principles of grammar and how to manipulate your words until they’re just right. Strengthen your revising and editing skills and become a clear and consistent writer.
College Prep: Writing a Strong Essay with Leigh Ann Chow (Video tutorial via LinkedIn Learning)
Learn to write college application essays that will impress admissions officers and help improve your chances of getting into a top-choice school.
Free College Resource Book by Doug Hewitt and Robin Hewitt
Written by the parents of five children attending institutions at no cost to them, the Hewitts use a unique organizational strategy that takes students and parents through the process of creating a game plan to fund their college educations by focusing on students’ interests.
Looking for other recommendations? Pursuing a different goal and want some resource ideas? We are here to help! Give the Answer Center a call – 970-221-6740.