Future Focused

Welcome to the 2025-26 Future Focused Newsletter. This is your go-to space for college readiness, career insights, and valuable resources to help you succeed. Whether you're seeking guidance, learning new skills, or questioning what you want to do after high school, this newsletter is designed to foster a sense of confident decision making and growth. Stay tuned for exciting updates, tips, and college/career readiness opportunities as we work together toward a bright future!

Aisha Bowe’s journey to success proves that big dreams can lead to incredible achievements. After earning aerospace engineering degrees from the University of Michigan, she worked at NASA’s Ames Research Center, helping to develop technology that improves air traffic safety. She didn’t stop there, she founded STEMBoard, a company that provides engineering solutions to the U.S. government, and later created LINGO, a coding kit that helps kids learn technology skills at home. Through her work, Aisha is making STEM education more accessible and showing young people, especially Black youth, that they belong in the world of science and technology.

November 1 * National Authors Day

November 2-8 * National Skilled Trade and Technology Week

November 6 * National Team Manager Day

November 7 * National STEM / STEAM Day

November 9-15 * Nurse Practitioner Week

November 10-14 * School Psychologist Week

November 14 * Operating Room Nurse Day

November 16-22 * National Apprenticeship Week

November 19 * GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Day

November 20 * Education Support Professionals Day

November 21 * Substitute Educators Day

November 28 * Systems Engineer Day

Ready to kickstart your college journey? Click here for an updated list of scholarships, in order, by deadline. Don’t wait: start applying today and get one step closer to your dream school!

CMU Chippewas are all about community, and joining a community can literally pay off for your students.
Applications are open now through January 15 for these competitive scholarships:

• Leader Advancement Scholarship. Rewards dedicated leaders with $2,000 per year. Minimum 3.0 GPA required.
  
• Multicultural Advancement/Lloyd M. Cofer Scholarships. Rewards students committed to equality and inclusion. Valued between $4,125 annually and a full-ride. No minimum GPA required.

The first step is applying for admission. After submitting an application for admission, eligible students will find these scholarship opportunities in their applicant portal.

Brainstorm Before Researching Scholarships

• Create a comprehensive list of your accomplishments.

• Sports, clubs, babysitting, church, leadership, work experience, family care, etc.

Answer the following common scholarship questions:

• Tell us about yourself.

• Describe a time you overcame adversity.

• What do you plan to study in college? Why?

• What makes you unique?

• Describe how you have demonstrated leadership ability in your community.

Be Thorough During The Search

• Find free scholarship search services.

• Seek out community resources, including community foundations, community groups, cultural organizations, employers, places of worship, and high school counselors.

• Pay attention to qualifications and requirements (every scholarship is different).

• Make a list of scholarships you will apply for.

• Prioritize your list by deadline.

• Add details of all materials required for submission.

Complete Your Applications

• Work on one scholarship at a time.

• Reread specifications of the essay.

• Create an outline using your brainstorm topics.

• Show the reader; don’t just tell them

• Use specific examples.

• Write multiple drafts. Never submit a first draft essay.

• Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! Have a trusted adult or a peer read over your final draft prior to submission.

Time To Submit!

• Make sure your application has all required documents.

• Double check that your essay answered all prompts given.

• Make a copy! Always keep a record of your submissions.

• File your FAFSA at studentaid.gov
• Apply for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship – free $$$ for staying in-state!
• Submit Early Action or Early Decision college apps (check deadlines!)
• Keep knocking out scholarships – local, regional, and national!
• Stay organized
• Create an email just for college and career information. Keep it professional!
• Seek support when needed and breathe! We're here to guide you through! 🙂

Thinking about becoming a Golden Grizzly? High school students can now explore Oakland University’s upcoming Undergraduate Admissions events. Visit the Undergraduate Admissions homepage to view information sessions, campus tours, special visit days, and other opportunities designed to help you learn more about OU and take your next steps toward enrollment. Check out the full list of events and plan your visit today!

• 12/02/25 - Welcome Reception
• 12/06/25 - Health Sciences Day
• 01/24/26 - Engineering and Computer Science Day
• 02/21/26 - Business Day

The Michigan College Guide is a tool to help scholars find a path to the right colleges. This is a comprehensive guide to Michigan's public and private colleges and universities. Click here to take a look!

The Outreach + Development Team at GM Design is offering students (7th-12th grade) a program that introduces young creatives to career paths within Automotive Design and Sculpting, as well as enhance portfolio pieces for established students. Accepted students will work alongside GM Design professionals on their sketching skills, digital sculpting, clay sculpting, and the application of color, material and finish. In addition to the Design skills that will be acquired, students will grow in their ability to communicate, which includes presenting their work and ideas to leadership, receiving feedback, and problem solving. Over the course of the program, students will be exposed to different creative disciplines and career paths that are available for creative students. The due date for applications and portfolio submissions is Sunday, November 16th, 2025 at 11:59 PM. Click here to register.

Unlock the future of AI for teens with IBM Skills Build! Learn the basics of this awesome technology and kickstart your skills with these free courses. Explore cutting-edge technologies, build essential workplace skills, and earn digital credentials to showcase what you’ve learned. Click here to register.

Skilled trades offer excellent career options with good pay and great opportunities. These in-demand jobs are in industries like healthcare, IT, manufacturing, construction, and automotive. In Michigan, employers are looking to fill over 520,000 skilled trades jobs, with 45,000 new openings each year. Click here for a helpful resource with more information on career paths, schools, and average salaries.

With Home Depot's Path to Pro program, a career in the trades has never been more attainable. Scholars can learn about jobsite safety, tools and construction materials, team building, communication skills, and the basics of the most in-demand trades for free! The Program is open to individuals who are at least 16 years old and have obtained permission from their parent or legal guardian. Click here for more information.

The World of 8 Billion Student Video Contest invites middle and high school students worldwide to take on the challenge of creating a 60-second video that explains how population growth affects one of this year’s three global topics and presents a creative, sustainable solution. Over 80 student winners will receive up to $1,200 in cash prizes. Mini grant opportunities for educators. Student submissions are due March 4, 2026. Click here for more information.

The Oakland County Acorn2Oak program offers grants to young individuals ages 8-18 who are passionate about making a difference. This initiative is designed to help youth bring their business ideas, community projects, educational goals, and extracurricular pursuits to life. Applicants can receive grants of up to $1,000 to support business development, community impact, educational achievements, and extracurricular activities. However, funds cannot be used for tuition, ongoing expenses, sporting equipment, or team registration fees. Don't miss out – the application deadline for this cycle is December 15th! Click here for more information.

Oakland County Michigan Works! helps youth ages 16-24 pursue internships year-round. Positions are available in a various industries at locations throughout Oakland County. If you would like to explore internship options with a career advisor, please complete the Oakland NEXT Application and select “Internship” as the program of interest. A career advisor will reach out to you directly to discuss available internship opportunities and help you move forward on your career pathway to success!

Gordon Food Service store is currently hiring Part-Time Store Associates to support their Southfield location. This is a great opportunity to provide superior customer service to your local community! Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Click here to apply.

McDonald’s in Oak Park is currently hiring Crew Team Members. They offer opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed every day. By offering industry-leading education programs and world-class training, they provide opportunities that inspire confidence and foster valuable skills to help employees thrive wherever they are on their journey. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Click here to apply.

Michaels in Southfield is hiring part-time Seasonal Customer Service representatives to deliver friendly customer service, help customers shop in the store, and find what they’re looking for. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Click here to apply.

Looking for a fun job where you can grow, learn, and make a difference? Shake Shack in Troy is hiring Restaurant Team Members! Enjoy hands-on mentorship, training, and a welcoming vibe while making an impact in your community. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Click here to apply.

The City of Livonia Parks & Recreation is offering several part-time positions for high school students ages 15 and older. Parks & Rec Level 1 contains the following positions:

• Athletic Attendant (must be at least 16 years old)
• Facility Attendant
• Fit Hub Attendant

Click here to apply.

Corewell Health is proud to offer job shadowing experiences for students ages 16 and above to observe a professional and ask questions about their career in a “hands-off” environment. These experiences are permitted up to 40 hours per calendar year. Please note that filling out the form does not guarantee placement, and they are unable to support job shadows with physicians at this time. Click here to express interest in a job shadow experience at Corewell Health.

McLaren Macomb is proud to offer a job shadowing/career observation experience for prospective healthcare students ages 16 and above to gain the experience to observe health-care employees in a workplace setting. Job shadows are typically only available Monday through Friday and are designed to be a one-time observation only for two (2) hours. Click here for more information and here to apply.

The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's office is excited to offer job shadowing opportunities for interested persons, ages 16 and older, who are entering or actively participating in the workforce. This unique opportunity provides participants with the opportunity to observe a WRC employee performing their daily work routine in their environment. Their mission is to excite potential candidates about a career in the water industry by allowing them to explore a realistic picture of the tasks performed for a specific job. Participants will receive an official certificate of completion at the end of the job shadow. Submit Your Request for a Job Shadow

It’s more than words on a page, it’s how you showcase your skills, show off your communication style, craft your professional summary, and make an amazing first impression. Think of it this way: your resume is your first interview. So, what story does yours tell? Check out these examples to get you started!

Imagine this: you’re in an elevator with someone important. What do you say before the doors open? Your 30-second elevator pitch is your secret weapon when networking : a quick, confident way to introduce yourself, share what you’re all about, and leave them wanting more. Ready to wow in half a minute? Let’s craft your perfect pitch here.

Mrs. Foster

Career and Education Navigator

University K-12 Academy

Counseling Office

Phone: 810-962-1505

autumn.foster@southfieldk12.org

Click Here to schedule a meeting with me