Kelly Teague

“Follow your passion” sounds nice. But passion alone doesn’t build a career. Better questions lead to better decisions: What are your interests? What careers connect to those interests? What training does that work require? What does that training cost? And is there real demand for that job? Career paths get clearer when we stop chasing slogans and start asking better questions.

A college degree doesn’t automatically equal a college-level job. Recent data shows about 42% of recent college graduates are underemployed which means they are working in jobs that don’t require their degree. Choosing a path after high school isn’t just about getting a degree. It’s about building skills that actually match real opportunities. Know the degree that you are getting and what careers align with it. Once you know those careers, find out the job demand for those  careers. The more you know, the smarter your decisions.

"Just Google scholarships." Yep, that's what high school students often hear. That advice has paralyzed more students than it's helped. Here's what actually works: Start with YOU - your major, your career, your community Search local first - fewer applicants, better odds Check trade + technical school grants Look at employers, civic organizations, and faith communities Fit > fame A small specific scholarship beats a big generic one every time. Scholarships aren't about luck. They're about strategy.

You’re not failing. You’re wobbling. Growth is not a straight line. It’s messy. It shakes. It stings. One low grade. One rejection. One awkward moment. One rough week. That’s a wobble, not a verdict. Resilient people don’t avoid the wobble. They recover from it. Your identity isn’t built on your worst week. It’s built on what you do next. Wobble ≠ identity. Recovery = power.

@BootsyGreenwood PREACH! So true! Those negative emotions are 100% data! You gotta learn how to work with them, process them, and learn from them. That's how you grow!

Thinking 'positive' while ignoring reality? That's spiritual bypassing! Your negative emotions are signals, not enemies. Face them, work through them, and *then* transform. #SpiritualBypassing #MentalHealth #SelfImprovement

Everyone’s talking college… but nobody’s talking about the shortage of trade workers...and that’s a massive opportunity. America needs electricians, plumbers, welders, HVAC techs, and more because the current workforce is retiring faster than new talent is coming in. Demand for these jobs is growing much faster than average, and openings are surging across the country. The U.S. is facing a massive shortage of electricians, with roughly 81,000 electrician jobs going unfilled each year on average between 2024–2034 as well as a 400,000 shortage of welders. Trade school is college.  It's just focused on real skills that employers already need. You train → get certified → step into high-demand work. Plus, skilled trades are hard to automate and essential to daily life so the demand isn’t going away. If you want a career people actually pay for, trade school might make more sense than you think.

Two students graduate high school. One heads to a 4-year college and leaves with the average student loan debt around $37,000. The other enters a trade apprenticeship. Zero debt. Earning while learning. Neither path is “wrong.” College can open incredible doors. Trades can open incredible doors. The difference? Debt changes your first five years. It affects where you live. What job you can take. How fast you build savings. How much risk you can afford. This isn’t about college vs. trades. It’s about understanding the financial impact of your choice. Before you decide, run the numbers. Because your future isn’t just about what you study; it’s about what you owe.

After working with students for decades, I’ve developed a few “career guidance hills” I will absolutely die on. The pressure we put on 17-year-olds to have their future figured out is unreal. Here are a few truths I believe every student deserves to hear.

Scholarship searches:  automotive technician scholarship, automotive technology scholarship, auto mechanic trade school scholarship, skilled trades scholarship, automotive transportation technology scholarship, Georgia Automotive Dealers Association Scholarship, Automotive Technology Excellence Scholarship (Savannah Tech), Erica Scannavino Skilled Trades Scholarship (South Georgia Tech), HOPE Grant, HOPE Career Grant. Technical college foundation scholarships

Not every career starts behind a desk. If you like working on cars, engines, or machines, there are real career paths built for that. • Automotive technician • Diesel mechanic • Aircraft mechanic • Industrial maintenance / engineering Many of these careers start at technical colleges, and yes, there are scholarships available too.  Check the comments below for a list of scholarship terms to search. Liking how things work might be the first clue to what you’re meant to do.

Resilience isn’t “push through.” It’s coordination. You don’t control what happens. You control what it means. Rejection = redirection. Low grade = data. Setback = recalibration. Not denying the sting. Just refusing to let one moment define you. Use it. Adjust. Move. Adaptable people win.

If you graduate from Georgia Tech, I’m proud of you. If you earn an HVAC certification, I’m proud of you. If you take over your family’s landscaping business, I’m proud of you. If you start an apprenticeship, I’m proud of you. Because this was never about the institution. It’s about intention. It’s about choosing a direction and taking real steps toward it. Four-year degree. Certification. Trades. Family business. None of them matter more than this: Did you decide on purpose? Did you follow through? I’m not impressed by brand names. I’m impressed by intentional next steps. That’s the flex.

Comfort feels safe. But it’s expensive. It costs you growth. It costs you exposure. It costs you the version of you that could’ve existed. Exposure feels awkward. New rooms feel uncomfortable. Trying feels risky. Good. Growth has never lived inside comfort. If it feels stretchy, if it feels a little exposing, if your voice shakes a bit — you’re probably in the right place. Comfort is easy. Growth is worth it.

The plan isn't the work. The work is the work. You can outline, color-code, and organize your future all you want. But at some point, you have to put the pen down and go. You don't learn by planning perfectly. You learn by trying, adjusting, and trying again. Ready isn't a feeling. It's a decision. So... are you planning or are you doing?

Frustration feels personal. It’s not. It’s instructional. If something didn’t work, good. Now you have information. The only real failure is refusing to adjust. Frustration isn’t proof you can’t. It’s proof you’re trying.

Who do you think you are? Whatever you answer, your brain will work overtime to prove you right. It would rather keep you familiar than help you grow. But here’s the good news: If you change the identity, your brain starts looking for different evidence. Start acting like someone who applies. Start acting like someone who studies. Start acting like someone who is more than average. Small steps. Repeated daily. You don’t rise to a new identity by accident. You practice into it.

@LGHS_Athletics @Coach_Friddell LOVES Clayton State! Some facts: Clayton State University sits just south of Atlanta and has been helping students build careers since 1969. With 40+ majors, a lake-filled campus, and NCAA Division II athletics, Clayton State is a great option for students looking for a smaller university with big opportunities. 🎓 Located in Morrow, GA 💼 Strong programs in business and healthcare 🏀 Home of the Lakers

“What if I choose the wrong career?” Here’s the reality: Careers are not straight lines. People pivot. They learn new skills. They try new paths. Your first step doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to move you forward.

Read that again.  You are not behind. You are not lost. You are not failing. You're just not done yet. Stop measuring your becoming against someone else's highlight reel. Your timeline is yours...and one next step is all you need right now.

Can we reframe something real quick? Being first-gen is not a disadvantage. It is a superpower and most first-gen students have no idea how much is waiting for them on the other side of that label. Let me show you what I mean. There are scholarships specifically for first-gen students. Money that exists because of exactly where you come from. There are support groups on college campuses built for first-gen students...people who get it because they're living it, too. There are resources, programs, and communities designed exclusively for you: the student whose family hasn't been there before. The system wasn't built with you in mind. I'll be honest about that. But somewhere along the way, people who looked like you and came from where you came from decided to build something better inside of it. And it's yours. If you claim it. So stop hiding the first-gen label like it's something to apologize for. Wear it. Use it. Let it open doors.