Are you interested in becoming a computer programmer? A multi-media designer? A musician? A doctor? A teacher? Technology is increasingly important in many careers. If you interested in learning more about careers that use technology, this How-to Guide will provide you with ideas for how to take advantage of opportunities on the web and in your community.

Use this guide for your own research, or follow all of the steps to create a presentation that you can present to your school board or other decision makers to help them understand the need for programs that support career investigation.

Below is a list of ideas for students who are interested in technology. The Resources section of SVRC includes links to many organizations that provide information about technology careers. You can also search using your favorite search engine.

Join a Club or Form a Club

There are many local and national clubs designed for students interested in technology. There are robotics clubs, computer clubs, student tech clubs, gaming clubs, and so on. Find out if there is an organization near you. If not, find a large national organization and find out what it takes to start a local chapter.

Take a Class

Taking a class is a good way to find out more about a topic and also a way to meet others interested in the same things. It's also a fun thing to do with a friend. Your options for finding a class probably include at least one of the following:

• Take an online course
• Take a course at a local community college
• Add a course at your school

See the How-to Guide about "Identifying new opportunities for students interested in taking technology courses" for more about these options.

Find a summer program

Find out about summer camps, internships, and pre-college programs for students interested in technology. You might be surprised to learn about some exciting options.

Find a mentor

A mentor is someone who you can turn to for advice about your education and future career. There are many organizations whose aim it is to connect young people with mentors in the science and technology fields. You can contact such an organization and request that they help match you up with someone in a field that interests you. You can also try writing letters to people you admire.

Find out about career opportunities

There are many online resources designed to give you more information about careers in science, math, and engineering fields. There is a collection of these websites in the Resources section of this website.

If you have a specific career interest, try writing to some companies requesting a visit to their offices. The company may be able to set up some informational interviews with their employees and let you observe the type of work that they do.

Conferences and Competitions

Other opportunities for getting connected to the world of technology include student conferences, competitions, science fairs, and so on. Many of the organizations listed in the Resources section feature news updates about upcoming events.

Start a Conversation at Your School

Are there any of the ideas listed above that you want to pursue with your school or community? Follow the steps below to engage students and adults in conversation about supporting these programs.

	Problem and Proposal What is your problem? What is your proposal? Problem: I would like to find out and keep up with the latest technology so I can be competitive in college and in the work force.  Proposal: The school should support programs that create opportunities for students to investigate careers in technology. Print out this worksheet to collect your ideas and your research for your action proposal.
	Rationale What reasons support your goal? Some examples might include: The results of a recent Gallup poll suggested that students are not exposed to the range of careers in technology. Role models and mentorship opportunities can help support students as they pursue their education and career goals. What is your school's technology plan?  Can you show how your idea supports your school or district’s plan for technology? Read about school technology plans.
	Research Find news articles and other research to learn how other schools have approached this same problem. Browse the SVRC Success Stories for advice from the student community. There are many ways to open dialog about this issue. You might want to organize a lunchtime conversation. Or else you might organize an evening event with representatives from the school board, faculty, and student body to discuss the opportunities to find out about technology careers. You could also organize a poll to find out your classmates' and faculty opinions about the current opportunities for students who are interested in technology at your school. You might ask questions such as: Are you happy with the current school programs for finding out about career opportunities? Do you think there should be more opportunities? If there were a technology career information day would you be interested in participating? If there was a mentorship program or career outreach program, would you participate? Find resources and articles about planning research projects.
	Obstacles What issues do you need to consider? Read about issues to consider when suggesting change.
	Details of your proposal What is your proposal? Now that you’ve identified your goals and completed your research, write a summary of your proposal.
	Support Think about groups and individuals who would be willing to support your idea. Some examples may include individual teachers, student clubs, your school’s PTA, the student government, service clubs, and local business groups. Try to think of a group that would have an interest in volunteering some time to help you.   Share your research and your proposal and see if these groups are willing to support you as a volunteer, a mentor, or even just adding their word of support to your proposal.
	Make a presentation A successful presentation summarizes your proposal, your rationale, and your research. This is what you are going to use to convince the decision-makers to support you. Review the worksheet of what should be in your action proposal.
	Set up a meeting Write a letter, make a phone call, or send an email to set up a meeting with decision-makers to present your idea. Your letter should include an introduction of your proposal and a polite request for a time when you can share your idea. Explain that you have done research and have a proposal to share with them regarding creating more opportunities for students interested in technology. Who makes decisions about school events? Read a who’s who of school decision makers.
	Present Your Action Proposal: This is your chance show what you know. Remember, you want to be convincing and likeable. If you’ve followed the steps in this guide, you are prepared with good research and support for your ideas. Your job now is to present your proposal and gain support from decision-makers.

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