As high school students prepare to make decisions about their future careers, they should not assume they have to focus only on the subjects they are best at, a Purdue University career and technical education expert says.

"Many students reach high school graduation with excellent academic credentials but with no idea of 'What I want to do when I grow up,'" says James P. Greenan, a professor of curriculum and instruction. "They have never been encouraged to explore that idea on their own. Just because someone is a good writer or good at math does not mean they want to -- or should want to -- make a career in that area."

Teachers and parents tend to steer students toward specific academic areas, but Greenan says it is imperative to ask young people about their career interests and to allow them to explore those interests while in school.

Greenan says participating in work-based learning such as cooperative education while in high school can play a valuable role in helping young people answer questions about their future.

While cooperative education has traditionally been viewed as an option primarily for high-school students not planning on attending college, Greenan says more and more students are incorporating work experiences into college preparatory education. These, and other experiences such as internships and job shadowing, can help young people make more informed decisions about careers they may want to pursue.

"There is a big difference between being interested in a career and enjoying the daily work," Greenan says. "The sooner young people have the opportunity to supplement their academic work with career exploration, the sooner they can focus on a career they likely will enjoy."