You Can Be Anything...

by Ysolt Usigan

As long as you put your mind to it. Wait, scratch that. How 'bout, You can be anything, but you have to work hard at it. Because you can wish for a snazzy career all you want, but if you don't get off your dreamin' rear to do something about it, you'll never get anywhere.

We asked three high school students about their career aspirations. To help them along the way, Jeanne Webster, expert teen coach and author of "If You Could Be Anything, What Would You Be? A Teen's Guide to Mapping Out the Future" (Dupuis North Publishing Company, 2002), offers some tips on how to make their career dreams come true with the right college majors.

Lydia Mattern, sophomore at Rising Sun High School (North East, MD)
"My dream is [to become] a movie editor because I would get to see all the movies before everyone else. Plus, I'd get to [meet] the stars," says the 15-year-old amateur filmmaker. "I enjoy editing my family's home videos and DVDs for school projects because it's fun to take something and make it your own."

Expert Tip: You obviously have an artistic and creative drive. Ask your guidance counselor to help you research film schools or colleges that offer film as a major. You may try combining a passionate hobby of yours with filmmaking and do your own documentary. Try sampling film work by getting a part-time job running the movies at your local theater.

Jeffrey E. Feiler, senior at South Brunswick High School (Monmouth Junction, NJ)
"I want to be a history professor because I want to have a positive influence on people's lives," says the 18-year-old yearbook editor. "I would be able to teach young people about the mistakes our society has made in the past, so that they're not doomed to repeat them."

Expert Tip: I love the idea that you want to have a positive influence on people's lives. You're already serving history as editor of your yearbook. Take the limits off your potential and explore the idea of writing a book from your own views about our past and our future. You may find you can help "write" our history.

Erica Banning, junior at D.H. Conley High School (Greenville, NC)
"If I could be anything, I would be a sports commentator," says the 17-year-old athlete and sports fan. "I hope to direct my college career toward a sports marketing degree to [bring me] closer to my dream of being a commentator."

Expert Tip: Sounds like you're on the right track to attain your dream with a major in sports marketing. You might try to get part-time work at your local radio station while you're still in high school. Talk to your principal about calling the local basketball games at your school. That will give you a taste of broadcasting and experience to take to college.