How I’ve Helped High Schoolers Explore Postsecondary Options as a College and Career Counselor

By Leigh Farrar-Freeman, Ph.D.

As a Milton Hershey School College & Career Counselor, I guide MHS students to identify their strengths, uncover their passions, and grow their dreams. Families often ask me what a high school career counselor does. In short, I’m a dream builder. I provide career and college guidance for teens that is personalized, practical, and rooted in service.

Students deserve clear information and supportive coaching as they choose between college, trade school, apprenticeships, military service, and other postsecondary options. Our approach at MHS blends data, mentorship, and hands-on experiences so every student can identify suitable pathways and make informed decisions about life after graduation.

Understanding Today’s Postsecondary Pathways

When I first meet a student I ask them, “What is your first dream job?” Together, we identify their career aspirations—where they want to work if they could wave a magic wand and start tomorrow. Of course, there are counseling theories, developmentally appropriate strategies, and career assessments utilized to make what we do as counselors look easy. High schoolers have more routes to success than ever before; my job is to build up their dream, not tear it down.

After we identify their dream job, I explain the differences in timeline, credentials, and career outcomes across postsecondary options, such as:

• Four-year colleges and universities leading to bachelor’s degrees and broad professional opportunities
• Community colleges with associate degrees, certificates, and transfer agreements
• Trade and technical programs that award industry-recognized credentials in a few months to two years
• Registered apprenticeships that combine paid work and training toward journeyman status
• Military service with structured training, education benefits, and leadership development
• Direct entry to the workforce to earn, upskill, and advance on the job

By explaining the work it takes to earn their dream job, my students know what they are locking into—and I’ll hold them accountable to that commitment. At MHS, we pledge to keep our standards high and help others to do likewise. This is how we help high schoolers pursue postsecondary options in a way that feels achievable.

A Personalized Approach to Counseling

For students who are a bit shy and closed off, I am intentionally positive—celebrating small wins and using that positivity to build rapport. I’ll joke that being positive is in my blood because my blood type is B+. I live authentically and support my students holistically—not just academically. Once students see that, they open up about their aspirations.

For undecided students, career assessments, job market data, career exposure in class, and authentic work experiences (internships/part-time work) help find a career fit without delaying their progress. We use assessments, like the Naviance Strengths Explorer, Career Cluster Finder, and O*NET Interest Profiler for high schoolers to pinpoint what they enjoy and where they’ll excel.

Together, we’ll also research and analyze the job market through resources like O*NET, Naviance, College Board, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. My job as a counselor is to translate these discovered trends into actionable, student-friendly insights that guide our students to explore career paths through electives, internships, and job shadowing.

Experiential Learning and Community Connections

Exposure brings goals to life. MHS arranges college visits, workplace tours, career fairs, internships, and job shadowing so students can explore interests before locking one in. We collaborate with our Hershey community partners and over 30 partner colleges to expose students to workforce and higher education opportunities throughout the school year.

In one such example, we hosted a tax accounting workshop with our school’s finance professionals. One of my students excelled in the workshop and discovered his passion for finance. The next school year, I helped him earn an internship with those very same professionals. These experiences, paired with career counseling from my team, help build career paths and professional networks.

Integrating with Career and Technical Education

At MHS, our college and career counseling team works hand-in-hand with our robust Career and Technical Education program. Students gain hands-on experience with real tools and technologies in health sciences, business, computer technology, culinary arts, construction, and more. This dual approach helps high schoolers explore postsecondary options while developing skills that matter.

Students can earn industry-recognized credentials, take advanced courses, and accrue college credits, all while receiving career guidance tailored to their strengths. MHS ensures every student can compare postsecondary options besides college and receive thoughtful career advice to match their aspirations.

Building GPS Plans – Postsecondary Checkpoints

In one-on-one meetings with their College and Career Counselor, students build their Graduate Programs for Success (GPS) Plan using an integrated approach that aligns high school course selection, extracurricular experiences, test prep strategies, application assistance, and financial aid timelines among many other tasks. This roadmap guides students from 9th grade through their senior year.

Practical High School Scheduling

Academic planning lays the groundwork for postsecondary plans. We help our students align their high school schedules to fulfill graduation requirements while keeping options open for Advanced Placement (AP) classes, dual enrollment, and CTE program areas. With this practical approach to academic planning, students’ high school transcripts and experiences are tailored to their long-term goals.

College Applications

When application season arrives, we help students take ownership of the process and become self-advocates. College and Career Counselors cannot apply on a student’s behalf, but we will review application essays and prepare them for interviews. We also coordinate with students and their families to gather everything they need to apply.

For students who seem to blossom at their own pace, rather than the timelines we set forth, I’ll help them discover what they really want and find their voices. For example, I had one student this year whose mother insisted that he wanted to apply to a particular college; however, he was procrastinating with his application. I discovered that he wanted to go to a different institution and helped him work up the courage to tell his mother. After that discussion, his mother helped him complete his application for the college he wanted to attend.

Assisting with Financial Aid

Financial fit matters. Our College and Career Counselors help families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), compare aid packages, and evaluate net cost across options. Students learn to seek scholarships, grants, or work-study opportunities, and budget for books, transportation, housing, and fees. At MHS, students can also earn up to $115,000 in a Continuing Education Scholarship (CES). By focusing on return on investment, we guide students toward suitable pathways that are both affordable and sustainable.

Workforce Applications

For students pursuing apprenticeships and workforce entry, less support is needed, but we’re still advocating for our students. We assist with writing resumes and practicing interviews, leveraging their high school experiences in the process. This guidance ensures a smooth transition from career planning to after-graduation action.

What I Love About Counseling

I love my job because it has allowed me to build real relationships with students, help them recognize their strengths, and walk alongside them as they discover what they want for their future. I see myself as a dream builder, someone who helps students connect their gifts, their goals, and the steps they need to take to get there. What makes this role so meaningful is knowing that through trust, encouragement, and honest guidance, I helped thousands of young people find their voice and move toward a life they truly want. Our students are to be treated with love, respect, self-worth, and value.

About the Author

With decades of experience in human services, human resources, education and training, and career counseling and development, Dr. Leigh Farrar-Freeman is a valued member of the MHS Graduate Programs for Success (GPS) team. Over the last 30 years, her hard work and dedication to MHS students, mentorship, and community service earned her the 2026 Women of Influence Award from Central Penn Business Journal.

Dr. Farrar-Freeman has also been active in several Board of Director positions, through which she has been instrumental in helping MHS students gain scholarships to further their postsecondary goals. Dr. Farrar-Freeman will retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year. She will spend her time with her family and friends, enjoying the fruits of her labor, as she travels the world, becomes fluent in languages, pursues her passion in interior design, and indulges in countless culinary delights. You can connect with her on LinkedIn if you wish to stay in touch.

Become a Student at MHS

At MHS, we provide career development in high school that unlocks each student’s potential. If you are seeking a school that helps teenagers explore all postsecondary options, our team stands ready to serve—with expertise, encouragement, and a commitment to student success. Explore our eligibility criteria or complete an initial eligibility form to start your enrollment journey.