Hello, dear readers! A new letter has drifted towards me in this wide expanse we call space! It’s quite nice to hear from people! An anonymous student writes to me today asking:

Hello Astro! Forecasting is happening soon, but I don’t know which academy I should pick.

Thank you, anon! This is a tricky but fun spot to be in! Picking your academy is one of the biggest things you do here at Benson. It sends you down the path that you will be following for the next three years, so it’s crucial that you pick one you will enjoy. 

Here at Benson we have three major areas of focus: Communications and Design, Health Occupations, and Tech Skills. All have their own unique specialties and curriculum.

If you like being hands-on and aren’t afraid to get dirty, then you would enjoy Tech Skills, as you have the opportunity to not only be hands-on, but also to build and see your creation roar to life.

Now, if you want to be a doctor or you want to help people, you would probably like Health Occupations. The classes help you prepare for being in the medical field with some classes even having students wear scrubs as a uniform. 

If you’re more of the creative type, or have an interest in getting your voice out there and heard, you would be a great fit for Communications and Design. With classes like Radio, where you can actually go live on air, or Computer Science, where you build your own game, it’s a space where creativity flies high!

Now, there is no pressure if you try out your academy and find out you don’t like it. In the sophomore year, students can switch if they feel that they picked the wrong area and need something new. Just talk to your counselor and see what your options are. There isn’t all that much pressure in the first year, as everyone is still getting used to their new environment. Your interests can change once you start going more in-depth with what you want to do when you’re older. 

Lastly, remember this! You do not have to go down a career path even if you spend the next few years doing it! This is your chance to figure out what it is that you want to do. Don’t worry about feeling like whatever it is that you’re going to be doing is the only thing you can do when you’re older. People change, you may find after three years that whatever you found to be interesting when you first started may no longer be fun, or you just can’t see yourself doing it as a job, and that is okay! explore, have fun, and enjoy every moment of it!

To ask for advice on any questions you have, fill out the Ask the Astro form!