READY TO GRADUATE is a resource site designed to assist students in planning their high school experience. From deciding which classes to explore in high school, choosing whether to take AP or Dual Enrollment (or both), weighing admission into Technical College or University, or learning how to research a career plan, these decisions can feel overwhelming!  Designing a solid high school plan and timeline to help students grow and evolve into a graduate with a solid post high school plan is the ultimate goal! While most of the resources on this site are designed for Georgia High School students, there may be useful links that any high school student may use.
Holly H. McShane, www.readytograduate.com owner and current Counseling Services Coordinator and Academic & Career Plan Coordinator for Jefferson City Schools, Jefferson GA.  
     Finding a solid career fit involves so much more than following your “passions” and hoping that plan results in an exciting, high paying job.
      A career fit requires a great deal of research into one’s personality, assets and undeveloped skills, sense of purpose, & personal ideas about lifestyle expectations. You also must consider what kind of post high school training one is willing to invest in to become work-force ready.  The search also requires forward thinking into what will be sustainable in the long run and knowing where the future growth lies.
      Students feel so much pressure navigating this process and are often unsure how to begin narrowing down opportunities. Before they know it, fall of their Senior year arrives and the decision to apply to college or Technical College, enlist in a military branch or enter the workforce upon graduation looms large.
      Guiding students through the process of discovering options that fulfill their sense of purpose is personal passion of mine, and one of my roles is that of Academic and Career Plan Coordinator for Jefferson City Schools.
     I loved serving all grade levels of students over the past 28 years as a School Counselor; this year I will add on the role of Supervising School Counselors for the system and supporting their advocacy of students and empowering the delivery of services to all students in the Academic, Career and Social Emotional domains.The dynamic and multifaceted role of helping students understand the importance of self- awareness, sharing opportunities that allow them to experience careers firsthand, and intentionally plan academic courses during high school to prepare them for their post-secondary plans is my priority.
      A brief background of my journey to Jefferson City Schools includes graduating with a Master’s Degree from Florida Atlantic University in School Counseling. A North Georgia resident since 1996, I am extremely passionate about serving my greater community. I served on DFCS’s Boards, Prevention of Child Abuse Boards, led sexual abuse prevention trainings for Darkness To Light, and am an active member of professional organizations such as the Georgia School Counselor Association. I currently serve on the University of Georgia’s Advisory Council and am continuing my degree at the University of West Georgia in Educational Leadership and am a proud Rotarian.
      As a mother of two children (now grown) I directly understand how challenging it can be to help your child find the right career and/or college fit in these current times! My son is entering his senior year at Boston University. My daughter earned a Bachelor’s from UGA, a Master’s of Nursing at Augusta University, and is working on her Doctorate program as a Nurse Practitioner. As a parent, I certainly empathize with the coaching your children in their decisions and I pledge my support in assisting in this process!
A NOTE about the sources cited; many thanks to consultants and counselors that have tirelessly contributed ideas and information to update this site. As a fluid resource tool, many links are reposting information from parent sites and any discrepancy in information posted is absolutely unintended and will be corrected when brought to my attention. I sincerely appreciate the fantastic resources that GaFutures, the College Board, ACT and countless collegiate sites provide to make high school planning manageable.