Ms. Strapp works in the career center to help students plan and get started on their plans after high school.

After graduating from MSUM with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising, she ended up going back to school for her master’s in Educational Leadership and Student Affairs.

These two degrees were what ultimately lead her to work in career development. She now works at Fargo South to help students plan their futures. These are a few of her best tips for students:

Best Tips For Taking A Gap Year?

“Make it productive! If you’re taking the year to determine what your interests are, use this time to explore different fields maybe through work experiences or job shadows. Don’t think it will just fall in your lap. Are you hoping to travel or save money for what’s next? Be sure to set a timeline for whatever you determine. It’s helpful to set a specific end date to keep yourself accountable in determining what’s next for your future. Sometimes gap years extend beyond a year which is okay but make sure you are keeping tabs on your goals and making progress so you can be intentional about what you are getting out of your gap year. There are many resources and organizations like the Gap Year Association that you can follow online for resources as well!”

Best Tips For Going Straight Into College?

“Make sure you are watching your email for important information regarding housing applications, orientation, and class registration events or deadlines. It may feel like the hard work is over after you receive your acceptance letter, but a lot of details and logistics need to be planned and completed before you even graduate high school.”

Best Tips For Finding A Job Out Of High School?

“Use your resources and network before you graduate to help you find a job. Stop by the career center if you need help connecting with employers, talk with teachers and mentors regarding your interests and their ability to be a reference for you, and make sure you prepare a resume and practice interviewing.” 

Best Tips For Paying For College?

Free money is always a fantastic way to pay for college! Scholarships and grants are awarded to individuals for several reasons, and these don’t need to be paid back. It can feel daunting but make sure you fill out the FAFSA each year to determine any aid you may receive. I also recommend being diligent about searching for and applying for scholarships. Although it can be tedious, going to help you in the long run. If you determine you need to take out student loans, do your research to understand what you will be paying back with interest.