Product Description

Too many of today’s teens graduate from high school and head off to college with little thought as to their goal. It is therefore no surprise that only one in three college students will both graduate and find commensurate employment. To improve their odds, students need a plan for success after high school — one that may or may not include college.

This resource discusses the disparity between teens’ preconceived beliefs and aspirations and the new economic and labor markets they will face as adults. It is designed to assist educators, parents, employers, and the community in promoting teens’ postsecondary success by helping them "find their future."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #373121 in Books
• Published on: 1999-08-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 152 pages

About the Author
Kenneth C. Gray is a professor in the Workforce Education and Development Program at Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining the faculty at Penn State, he was superintendent of the Vocational Technical High School System in Connecticut and has been a high school English teacher, guidance counselor, and administrator. He has published widely and is frequently quoted in the national press. He is coauthor with Edwin Herr of Workforce Education: The Basic. His latest book, Getting Real: Helping Teens Find Their Future, addresses the importance of helping teenagers develop career direction as a prerequisite to postsecondary success. He holds a BA in economics from Colby College, an MA in counseling psychology from Syracuse University, and a doctorate in technical education from Virginia Tech.

Customer Reviews

A must read for teens (and parents who want their teens to succeed)
First mechanics: Getting Real is extremely well written. Dr. Gray weaves together statistics, ideas and research into a well organized, easily read 128 pages.

Secondly material: Sadly, too many teens are making career plans using information that is at least a decade out of date. Getting Real accurately updates readers at warp speed.

Dr. Gray bravely tackles the myth that a university degree is the key to a successful career and that all university degrees lead to high paying jobs. In today's job market, this just isn't so. Dr. Gray shows why success for today's teens will depend as much on creating detailed and achievable post-high school plans as it does on getting good grades. His definitions of career maturity for 10th and 12th grade students are revolutionary.

His ideas will come as a shock to Boomer parents who believe that teens should put off making career decisions as long as possible to keep all options open. Dr. Gray explains in detail why this old advice is bad advice.

The global economy has created a job market is volatile and complex. High school and college teachers have little training about labor market realities or effective career planning techniques. Therefore, successful transition from school to work is an individual responsibility. Getting Real provides teens the guidance they need to create sound strategies for building their first career paths.

Carol Christen, author What Color Is Your Parachute for Teens: Discovering Yourself, Defining Your Future

Thinking outside the box
Ken Gray has dared to challenge what we all have come to believe to be the "right" path for a student to follow after high school. The truth is that times have changed and the path to success no longer follows the same pattern it once did. I highly recommend this book for anyone who works in close contact with high school students. Many students go to college because they feel it's the only option... then drop out because it isn't for them. Ken Gray's book points to another option for helping these students to succeed.