To graduate from high school, you must successfully complete a specific set of courses. In addition, you will take courses that are called electives. Electives may include core academic courses or courses in other areas of interest, including fine arts, physical skills, health, or career skills.  Graduation requirements are designed to give you the thinking, speaking, writing, and knowledge skills for success in college, career, and life. 

Most college or career training programs will require that you meet admission standards that go beyond your graduation requirements.  They may require that you take a placement test to determine what courses you must take.  If you enlist in the military, you will take career tests to assess your knowledge and skills. In any career, advancement involves training or advanced courses. As you look ahead, every path to the future requires that you learn and continue to learn.  You do not stop learning when you graduate from high school.  Learning is a lifelong process and critical to career advancement and to personal growth.

While lifelong learning is not a new concept, it is more important today than ever before.  Past generations had the option of staying in the same jobs and doing the same kinds of work for their entire lives.  You live in a constantly changing world requiring ever increasing knowledge.  Lifelong learning is not optional.  Today, it is required for success in every area of life.