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Most high school students are taught the core subjects: math, science, history, English, maybe economics if they’re lucky, or an elective like cooking or PE. These subjects are important—they form a solid educational base. But there’s something missing. While students gain facts and concepts, they aren’t exposed to the real-world industries they’ll eventually work in.
If high school students could get early experience in industries, it might save them from years of uncertainty and costly decisions down the road. Why? Because without knowing what a career path really involves, many students enter college picking majors based on what they think they want to do—or what sounds interesting—without any real insight into the industry itself. This can lead to wasted time, money, and ultimately a sense of feeling stuck.
A lot of people struggle with this. Imagine graduating with a degree you thought you wanted, only to realize in your first job that the industry isn’t a fit. That happened to me. I went through a tough electrical engineering program, thinking it would open doors, get me a good job, and lead to career satisfaction. The math, the late nights studying until 4 a.m., the intense focus on passing my exams—I put everything into it. But when I graduated, I found myself in a role that just didn’t feel right. I realized I wasn’t even interested in the work. And by then, I had spent over four years and $70,000 to get there.
Many high school students would benefit from understanding what industries actually do before they commit to a major. This would help them discover what they enjoy and what they don’t while they’re still in high school. College is an expensive place to figure that out.
At Starter School, we focus on giving students experience in actual industries through our Tech Work Program. It’s about getting them involved in hands-on projects that reflect real-world work. These are short-term projects that can be completed in hours, but they give students something valuable to show on a resume—experience with tech tools and problem-solving beyond simple tests and memorized facts.
Our program covers a wide variety of fields, including:
Instead of just learning facts, students get to see what working in these areas feels like. For example, they might create social media ads, design presentations, or build software tools. They’ll get practice with tools like Figma, Notion, CapCut, Canva, Google Workspace, JotForm, and other technologies used every day in these industries. These experiences help students build problem-solving skills and confidence, and they’ll have concrete projects to talk about in future interviews.
It’s easy to feel lost in school, focusing only on passing tests, but knowing that the world of work is waiting can be daunting. By working with industries, students get to explore different types of careers and skills, so they’re not just guessing. They’ll know more about what they’re good at and what excites them, giving them confidence and direction.
Today, more than 600 students have gone through our program, participating in different industry challenges, learning about the skills and tools used by professionals, and discovering what they might want to do in the future. Through industry experience, we hope students don’t feel stuck or limited by their education, but instead, can approach their futures with clarity and purpose.
Let’s help students go beyond subjects and explore industries—so they’re prepared for a career path that’s right for them.
Help your child learn how to become a stronger problem-solver using the newest A.I. tools & tech they don't learn about at school. Enroll your child into the Tech Work Experience today.