Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A Post-Graduation Guide
Introduction
This is a guidebook to help teens at the Boys & Girls Club of
the Cedar Valley through their post high school graduation
planning process. There are so many options to choose from.
Knowing yourself, your goals, and your passions is the key to
making the best choice! Throughout this guide you will find
answers to questions you may have and additional resources that
will help you gain insight into what path is right for you. Consider
what things you have learned through programs at The Club
about yourself and what that translates to in your future.
Keep in mind the staff at the Teen & Educational Center who
are here to help you through this process. Staff cannot make any
decisions for you, but they are ready to help answer questions,
find information, and assist you in sorting through your options.
This planning process can be overwhelming, but the staff at The
Club, your peers, and this guidebook are all great resources to
help you to choose your future!
Online Schools
The Military
Employment
Apprenticeships
Here are some free tests to help you find the right path to take based
on your personality. The results do not define you and by no means are the
only options you have. Look at the results as examples and think about
what else would be a good fit for you and whether or not you agree with
what the test came up with.
Career Matching
• https://www.123test.com/career-test/index.php
• https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/interest-assessment.aspx
• https://bit.ly/37A8aHE
College Matching
• https://www.niche.com/
• www.unigo.com
• https://www.collegecovered.com/getting-into-college/quiz-what-type-of-
college-is-the-best-fit-for-me/
Four-year colleges are in every state and are either public or private.
Public colleges are generally less expensive because they are partly
supported by taxes. Both types have a wide variety of programs and can
vary in size. There are more than 3,000 four-year colleges in the U.S. that
you can apply to! Here is a list of some Iowa four-year colleges that are
local and relatively close to the Cedar Valley.
Joining the military is a great way to help finance college and build
your resume. There are many benefits offered through the military
including; education, salary, travel opportunities, housing, allowances,
health benefits and much more. You have the option of serving part-time or
full-time depending on your needs. The military offers college tuition and
repayment of college loans, which would be a good opportunity to take
advantage of if you plan on furthering your education. Check out
www.goarmy.com to learn more. Below there are also local military
recruiter stations and contact information listed for you.
Tony’s Plumbing
5630 Westminster Dr.
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
319-277-2750
www.tonysphc.com/about-us
Employment
If you are ready to jump into the work force, there are a few things to
consider. From your resume and interviews to finding the perfect career it
can be overwhelming. Choosing to work right out of high school is also a
good option if you want to further your education but are unsure of which
direction to take. This can also help you earn money to pay for school later
on in life. If you haven’t already, check out the first section of this post-
graduation guide and take some career matching quizzes. There are endless
possibilities for your future and there is something out there for you! In this
section you will find resources on resume building, reference list, interview
skills, identification, checking accounts and direct deposit.
Resume Building
Do NOT include:
• The date you wrote the resume
• Any personal data beyond contact information
• Photographs
• Unrelated hobbies
• References (this should be on a separate list)
• Criminal record
• Exaggerations or lies about yourself
• Anything negative about employers or yourself
Always ask references for permission to use them when applying for a job
and let them know who they may receive calls from.
Remember to thank your references whether or not you get the job.
Potential References:
• Teacher
• Coach
• Academic advisor/ guidance counselor
• Mentor
• Current or former manager/direct supervisor
• Current or former co-worker
Information to include:
• Your name and contact information
• Reference name
• Reference position
• Reference company
• Reference company address
• Reference phone number
• Reference email address
• Brief statement of relationship with your reference
If you are offered a position and accept you will need to provide evidence
of identification to your employer within 3 business days of when you start.
It is recommended to know where these documents are while applying and
have access to them so you can be prepared to start working. Some
common forms of identification used are passports, driver’s licenses, social
security card, and birth certificates. For people under the age of 18 school
record or reports, clinic, doctor or hospital records, and daycare or nursery
school records are accepted. On the next page is the official Form I-9
Employment Eligibility Verification that lists acceptable documents.
Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s employment eligibility process requires that employees must present,
to their employer, evidence of identity and employment eligibility within three business days of the date
employment begins. If an employee is authorized to work, but is unable to present the required document(s) within
three business days, they must present a receipt for the application of the document(s) within three business days
and the actual document(s) within ninety (90) days.
2. Permanent Resident Card or Alien 2. ID card issued by federal, state or 2. Certification of Birth Abroad
Registration Receipt Card (Form local government agencies or issued by the Department of State
I-551) entities, provided it contains a (form FS-545 or Form DS-1350)
photograph or information such as
name, date of birth, gender, height,
eye color and address
3. An unexpired foreign passport with a 3. School ID card with a photograph 3. Original or certified copy of a birth
temporary I-551 stamp certificate issued by a state,
county, municipal authority or
outlying possession of the United
States bearing an official seal
5. An unexpired foreign passport with 6. Military dependent’s ID card 6. ID Card for use of Resident
an unexpired Arrival-Departure Citizen in the United States (Form
Record, Form I94, bearing the same 7. U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner I-179)
name as the passport and containing Card
an endorsement of the alien’s
nonimmigrant status, if that status 8. Native American tribal document 7. Unexpired employment
authorizes the alien to work for the authorization document issued by
employer 9. Driver’s license issued by a Canadian DHS (other than those listed under
government authority List A)
If you are 18 or older and have a social security number, you can create an
account at a bank or credit union on your own. Those between the ages of
14-18 can create an account with a parent or guardian as the co-owner of
the account. Identification verification is required for opening a bank
account as well so be sure to gather the documents you’ll need. In this
section there are a few links to resources that can help you through the
preparation and researching process of opening a checking account.
https://www.wikihow.com/Open-a-Checking-Account
https://www.discover.com/online-banking/banking-topics/opening-a-checking-account-
online/
https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/040715/what-should-you-bring-bank-open-
checking-account.asp
https://www.investopedia.com/how-to-open-a-checking-account-online-4797805
https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-set-up-direct-deposit-315294
Financing Your Education
All colleges and universities require you to file for the FAFSA to apply for a
financial aid package. The FAFSA is a form that you will answer questions
about your financial status and family circumstances. After submitting your
FAFSA, you will receive a student aid report (SAR) that will inform you of
your estimated family contribution (EFC). This is the approximate amount
that your family will be expected to pay for your education that academic
year. If the cost of the college is more than your EFC, you have financial
need. You should be offered some form of financial aid package by the
colleges you are applying to. This form is time sensitive so make sure to
check out the FAFSA website listed below for all deadlines.
www.studentaid.gov
Scholarship Searching
Students with Disabilities
www.fastweb.com
www.iowacompass.org/scholarships
www.scholarships.com
www.finaid.org/otheraid/ld.phtml
www.studentscholarshipsearch.com
www.chegg.com/scholarships
www.unigo.com
Local Scholarships
Check with your family to see if you are connected with any clubs, organizations, or
churches that may offer scholarships to their members! Some examples of places to
look into are listed below.
• Churches • VFW
• Knights of Columbus • Native American affiliations
• Kiwanis • Active duty or veteran groups
• Circle K • Parent/Guardian places of
• Lyon’s Club employment
Walter Thomas & Carline Bradford Phillips East High Hall of Fame Scholarship - $1,000
• Students graduating from Waterloo East High School
• Will be attending post-secondary school in Iowa
• Priority given to students of color, with an emphasis on African American
students