--- title: Middle School Guide To Preparing for Your Future Career description: Our step-by-step guide will help you prepare yourself for high school and beyond. image: https://blog.delawarepathways.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(10).png --- ![delawarepathways-logo-horizontal](https://blog.delawarepathways.org/hubfs/images/delawarepathways-logo-horizontal.svg "delawarepathways-logo-horizontal") [Contact Us](https://delawarepathways.org/contact-us/) - [About](https://delawarepathways.org/about/) - [About Pathways](https://delawarepathways.org/about/) - [Office of Work Based Learning](https://deowbl.org/) - [Strategic Plan](https://delawarepathways.org/strategic-plan/) - [Students & Families](https://delawarepathways.org/students-families/) - [Educators](https://delawarepathways.org/educators/) - [Partners](https://delawarepathways.org/business-community-partners/) - [Pathways](https://delawarepathways.org/pathways-programs/) - [Languages](https://delawarepathways.org/languages/) - [News & Updates](https://delawarepathways.org/news-updates/) # Middle School Guide To Preparing for Your Future Career ![](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e) [Delaware Pathways](https://blog.delawarepathways.org/author/delaware-pathways) Oct 31, 2024 ![](https://blog.delawarepathways.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(10).png) Is middle school too early to start thinking about a career path? No, it’s actually the perfect time! Middle School is an opportunity for students like you to figure out who you are within your community, school, and future career.   How can you prepare yourself for a career pathway and the future? Follow our Middle School Guide! It can set you up for success in high school, your future career, and beyond!  ### Follow these simple steps: #### **Step 1: Explore your Interests in Middle School** ##### Option 1: Career Exploration Most students at your age might not know what they want to do, and that’s okay! That’s why it’s the perfect time for career exploration. Through the Middle Grades Pilot Program, you will participate in a series of academic and career-specific experiences that can help you find your purpose, create a path to high school success, promote self-discovery, and develop employability skills.  The goal is to exit grade eight ready for high school, having found success in career and technical education. So, really use your time in middle school to explore everything!  To learn more about the potential of middle school career exploration, [click here](https://delawarepathways.org/middle-grades/).  ##### Options 2: Middle School Pathways If you already have a good sense of which career you want to pursue, consider participating in one of these middle school pathways.  Programs of study for grades 7 and 8: 1. Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources 2. Biomedical Sciences 3. Business Management & Administration 4. Career Exploration 5. Computer Science - MS 6. Culinary & Hospitality Management - MS 7. Engineering (PLTW) - MS 8. Health Science 9. Human Services 10. Jobs for Delaware Graduates 11. MYP PLTW 12. PLTW Gateway 13. Programming and Software Development - MS 14. Specialized Technical Experience 15. STEM - MS These Middle School Pathways will help you prepare for your future career and for high school’s Delaware Pathways programs, too.  #### **Step 2: Prepare for High School** ##### Do your research and explore opportunities offered in high school.  In high school, you have the opportunity to participate in a Delaware Pathways program. Delaware Pathways helps you develop academic, technical, and employability skills in your career of choice. You take career-specific courses, have the opportunity to earn early college credit, and participate in work-based learning. Make sure you have a deep understanding of what [Delaware Pathways](https://delawarepathways.org/) is, how it can benefit you, and what programs are offered. 12 different career clusters offer various pathways that you may be interested in. Explore the pathways [here](https://delawarepathways.org/pathways-programs/).  ##### Determine if your school offers your pathway of choice. Once you find the pathway for you, check to see if it is offered at your school. If it is NOT offered, you can look into the [School Choice](https://education.delaware.gov/families/k12/school-choice/) process. Delaware’s School Choice program allows your family to enroll you in any Delaware public, charter, or vocational-technical school regardless of your home address. For more information about the School Choice process, please contact your counselor.  #### **Step 3: Talk To Your Parents, Counselor, or Teachers** Choosing your future career is a big decision, so it's important that you talk to people you trust. Get advice from your parents, counselors, or even your teachers.  Talk to your parents. Ask them about their career journey and if there is anything they wish they did to set them up for success. Check in with your counselors. Tell them the Pathway you are interested in and ask them about its availability. Spaces are limited, so be sure to have a backup plan. Get advice from your teachers. Use them as a resource to understand different industries.  ### Set Yourself Up For Success By following these simple steps, you can set yourself up for success in middle school, high school, and your future career. Take advantage of all the opportunities offered and lean on people you trust for advice and guidance along the way. ### More about Delaware Pathways ##### Open the door to your future.  Once you have had career exposure and built employability and technical skills in middle school, you are ready to begin your Delaware Pathways journey! You can join thousands of other Delaware Students who are transforming their lives with hands-on experiences that prepare them for the real world! For more information about Delaware Pathways, [click here](https://delawarepathways.org/). ## Subscribe to our email newsletter Sign up and get the freshest tips and tricks, delivered straight into your inbox twice a week. ## Featured Articles ![](https://blog.delawarepathways.org/hubfs/54502C07-28B3-4BA7-8803-696DA8060F66.jpeg) [Meet Kylee Lehnert a Marketing Today! 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[Get Started](https://delawarepathways.org/pathways-programs/) [Contact Us](https://delawarepathways.org/contact-us/) ![delawarepathways-logo](https://blog.delawarepathways.org/hubfs/images/delawarepathways-logo.svg "delawarepathways-logo") © 2026 Delaware Pathways ## Plan Your Career Pathway - [Pathways](https://delawarepathways.org/pathways-programs/) - [Languages](https://delawarepathways.org/languages/) - [News & Updates](https://delawarepathways.org/news-updates/) - [About](https://delawarepathways.org/about/) - [Contact Us](https://delawarepathways.org/contact-us/) - [Privacy Policy](https://delawarepathways.org/privacy-policy/) ## Our Vision Helping achieve the “Delaware Promise” through programs and services that link student identities to promising careers. 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