Culminating+Project 



GLN 40 Culminating Project “Looking Into a Crystal Ball” 5 Year Personal Plan *Please add a sample monthly budget to the finances section as well as include a copy of your resume. Wait until I give you feedback on your resume to put it in, it will be a ONE page targeted resume and I will help you target it appropriately if needed.

Throughout the Navigating the Workplace course we have discussed a variety of issues related to your future beyond high school, and life with your parents or guardians. This culminating activity is your opportunity to pull all of this information together into a comprehensive scrapbook. The information within your scrapbook will address the topics discussed in class, and should allow you to more clearly focus your own personal five year life plan.

All material submitted in the scrapbook should be your own, and put into your own words. Any quotes, or images from specific websites or people should be cited appropriately. Also, all required sections should be no less than 2 complete paragraphs in length. See Miss Bell if you are struggling to complete a section, it is understood that you will have more to write about in some sections and less in others. All work should be written in sentences and edited. Errors should not be found in your final product. Also, include images and pictures where appropriate to make your scrapbook visually appealing. Clearly this will be less relevant for some, see Miss Bell for alternative ways to make your project more interesting for the audience. Your scrapbook must include:

A Title Page and a Table of Contents Priorities and Values – What is important to you, and how is this reflected in your life choices?

Education/Apprenticeship/Training/Work What are your educational plans after high school? If you are going to college or university include information about the school and program you are attending, what your schedule will be like (for instance, does it include co-op or apprenticeship?). What will this program allow you to do upon completion? If you are choosing to go into an apprenticeship, how will you get into an apprenticeship program, and what do you hope to get out of the program – how is it structured? If you are going directly to the workforce, what on the job training or courses might you have to take? Perhaps you plan on working. What type of job do you expect to have? What type of job would you like to have, versus what type of job do you think it’s likely that you will have?

Finances What is your financial situation like at this point? What savings do you have at this point and how does that relate to the amount you are going to need? How are you going to finance your education? If you aren’t going to a post secondary destination, how are you going to afford to live on your own? What will your big expenses be in the first 5 years and how do you plan to pay for them?

Personal Life How do you think your personal life will pan out over the next 5 years? How will this impact your 5 year plan? Think about marriage and children, as well as other personal relationships that might impact your plans

Additional Education What extra courses will you be taking outside of the regular post secondary education options? These might range from First Aid, if you plan to have kids soon, to Smart Serve, to Chainsaw Safety, or attaining a different type of license. You might take guitar lessons, or perhaps you’d like to learn how to be a ninja. Where could you take these courses and how much might they cost?

Food It may seem silly, but food is a huge expense, particularly when you are on your own for the first time. What food choices do you make, and how will that impact your finances? Do you buy food on sale, no name brands, or are you a surf and turf kind of person, which will cost a lot! Provide a sample grocery list, along with prices. Do some research!

Clothing/Grooming/Entertainment Do you feel that these areas of your life will be costly? Think about your taste in clothes – do you have a taste for expensive clothes, or an ever-expanding closet? How much will you be willing to dedicate to this part of your life? Consider personal supplies. If you are buying new shampoo every week, expensive make up, or fancy hair gel how will this be impact your day to day existence? Finally, entertainment – Do you go out often? How much would you expect to spend on an average outing (this may be reflected in your priorities as well). How will your future location impact your entertainment choices?

Recreation/Hobbies Do you play sports or take courses? What is an activity that you might find yourself taking part in, or that you already do now and how does that impact on your time and finances.

Pets and Livestock Do you have any pets or animals? Do you plan to herd cats? Do you see yourself getting a pet in the next 5 years, and if so, how will that impact your life?

Insurance/Health/Dentist/Doctor Are you covered by insurance while still at school, or for the first few years after high school? If yes, by who, and if not, what are you going to do to remedy that? What could happen which would impact this area, and what concerns do you have in terms of health issues?

Transportation How do you intend to get around? Do you know how to use buses/trains/planes/taxis? Are you comfortable doing so? Are you aware of the costs for each? Are you aware of the costs associated with your specific needs? Housing/Furnishings What sort of living accommodations do expect to be in upon graduation? How will that change during the course of your 5 year plan? How will you furnish your house, and how much will that cost? Specifically at your post secondary education choice, where will you live? What are your expectations for where you reside in your first year after graduating?

Geographical Location Where do you plan to go to school, or to live after graduating from high school? What factors made you make this choice? Even if you go to a 4 year university program you will be making choices about where you live in the next 5 years. After your education or training, where would you like to live and why, or if you want to move around, where do you want to live and why would you be moving?

Expected Lifestyle What are your lifestyle expectations? Do you have high goals for yourself? Think about your planned occupation, how does it and your projected income influence the way you will live? What possessions/items do you want in your life, and why do you choose to have those?

Plan B – If your original plans fall through, what will you do? Think about what your options might be if you change programs or drop out of your university, or you lose your post-high school job. What is your back up plan – what education will you get instead and where; what other occupation will you turn to; what other choices will you make to allow you to survive!

Be thorough, and take this activity seriously. The culminating task is worth a considerable amount of your final mark. There is, of course, a rubric that goes with this. We will review this rubric in class and you will be given a copy.