Though the pressing urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, teens today continue to feel its impact. Whether teens are aware of it or not, their vision for the future has been informed by such tremendous upheaval. At the height of the pandemic, research about teens demonstrated that many were turning to non-college education pathways and careers as opposed to four-year college. Similarly, there was an intense focus on where teens wanted to work, implying they placed a high value on whether they worked in-person or from home.

 

Uncover whether all these trends are still prevalent among teens today. How far in advance are teens planning for their futures? What, specifically, are their plans and what are their motivations for pursuing their next academic and vocational steps? Do they have a backup plan and what is it? What supports and resources do teens need as they plan their futures? This information is crucial for non-profit and mission-driven organizations aiming to tailor their programs to the needs and preferences of today’s high schoolers and middle schoolers.