The transition from high school to adulthood can be daunting for many students. The pressure to figure out what to do after graduation, whether it’s college, directly into the workforce, or an alternative path, can be overwhelming. For students to succeed in today’s fast-paced and competitive world, they must have access to resources that provide clarity and direction early on. College and Career Readiness (CCR) is not just about academic success; it’s about equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and real-world experiences that will help them thrive in the workforce.
This case study follows Sarah Wilson, who was once an uncertain high school junior but is now the Director of Marketing at Kuder. Sarah’s journey highlights how Kuder Navigator®, a platform designed to help students discover their strengths, explore career options, and plan for their futures, combined with work-based learning (WBL) opportunities, helped her find a career path that fit her interests. Through her experiences, Sarah now leads initiatives that help other students achieve their career and college readiness goals.
In 2014, Sarah Wilson was a high school junior at Waukee High School in Iowa. Like many of her peers, she was uncertain about her future and unsure about which career path to pursue. Although she had a love for writing and creativity, Sarah hadn’t yet figured out how those passions could translate into a potential career. It wasn’t until she was introduced to Kuder Navigator® that Sarah began to feel like she had a sense of direction.
Kuder Navigator® is a tool specifically designed to help students with their college and career readiness by offering research-backed career assessments and supporting CCR and WBL tools. The assessments in Navigator provided Sarah with insights into her personal interests and skills confidence, which led her to discover marketing as a top career cluster. This discovery was an eye-opening moment for
Sarah, as it offered clarity and set her on the path toward a future in marketing.
“The Kuder assessments were the first real tool that helped me understand where I fit,” Sarah shared. “I was drawn to marketing because it allowed me to combine my passion for creativity with my strengths in writing. It gave me the direction I needed to start thinking about my future in a concrete way.”
While the Kuder Navigator® assessments helped Sarah identify a potential career, it was work-based learning that truly solidified her decision. Sarah was able to leverage her newfound clarity by securing a high school internship with Kuder, the very company whose assessments had guided her in the first place. This work-based learning experience allowed Sarah to gain hands-on experience in the field of marketing, providing a bridge between the academic knowledge she gained in school and the practical skills required in the workforce.
The internship gave Sarah invaluable insight into the day-to-day work of marketing professionals, including creating content, designing campaigns, and working as part of a team. It was the first time Sarah could see herself in a real career environment and confirmed that marketing was the right fit for her. This hands-on experience became a pivotal moment in her career readiness, as it enabled her to gain the professional skills necessary to succeed after graduation.
“I can’t emphasize enough how important that internship was,” Sarah explained. “It wasn’t just about learning concepts in class anymore—it was about applying what I had learned to real-world marketing projects. That kind of work-based learning was essential for me to confirm that I was on the right path.”
Sarah’s journey underscores the deep connection between work-based learning and college and career readiness. Work-based learning experiences, such as internships and apprenticeships, allow students to develop the practical, hands-on skills necessary for success in both college and the workforce. By engaging in real-world work environments, students like Sarah not only apply their academic knowledge but also gain professional experiences that increase their employability and confidence in their career choices.
The alignment of WBL with CCR is crucial for ensuring that students are well-prepared for the challenges of post-graduation life. When students participate in work-based learning opportunities that match their interests and career goals, they are more likely to develop the skills they need to succeed in their chosen fields. Moreover, these experiences provide students with an opportunity to build professional networks, refine their problem-solving abilities, and gain an understanding of workplace dynamics—skills that are essential for success in today’s competitive job market.
Following her high school graduation, Sarah pursued a degree in Marketing Management at the University of Iowa. Her decision to focus on marketing was influenced by her work-based learning experience, which had given her the clarity and confidence to pursue this field of study. As a result of her early exposure to the world of marketing, Sarah was able to focus her academic efforts and choose courses that would prepare her for a successful career in the field.
Thanks to the early guidance she received through Kuder Navigator® and her internship experience, Sarah was able to graduate in just three years, a remarkable feat that speaks to the importance of having a clear career direction early on. Her time in college was focused, and she continued to build on the skills she had developed through her work-based learning experiences.
“My time at the University of Iowa was incredibly efficient,” Sarah said. “Because I already knew what I wanted to do, I was able to focus on the courses and projects that would set me up for success in my career. It all goes back to the clarity I gained from the Kuder assessments and my internship, it helped me stay on track and graduate faster.”
After completing her degree, Sarah worked in various marketing positions across the country, but her connection to Kuder never faded. The same company that had helped her find her career path was now the organization she wanted to work for. In a full-circle moment, Sarah returned to Kuder as a Digital Marketing Specialist, where she was able to apply everything she had learned during her academic and professional journey.
Today, Sarah leads the marketing team at Kuder, helping other students achieve the same college and career readiness (CCR) that she was able to achieve. She is deeply passionate about promoting work-based learning (WBL) because of how pivotal it was in her own career development. She now works to help students navigate the same process she went through, using Kuder’s tools to guide them in making informed decisions about their futures.
“Returning to Kuder was an amazing experience for me,” Sarah reflected. “I get to help students find the same clarity and direction that I found. Work-based learning (WBL) is such an important part of that process because it allows students to experience what their future careers will be like. It helps them understand the practical application of what they learn in school, and it helps them build the confidence they need to succeed in the workforce.”
Sarah’s story is a powerful example of how work-based learning and college and career readiness go hand in hand in shaping a student’s future. By providing students with tools to assess their interests and strengths early on, such as through Kuder Navigator®, educators can help students gain the confidence and direction they need to choose a career path. Coupled with the work-based learning solutions in Navigator, students can prepare to enter the workforce with the skills and experience necessary for success.
It’s essential for schools to prioritize work-based learning opportunity engagement as they provide the hands-on, practical experience that students need to transition from high school to their chosen career paths. Whether through internships, apprenticeships, or job shadowing, these real-world experiences help students understand the realities of the workplace and apply their academic knowledge in meaningful ways.
By promoting college and career readiness through career exploration and work-based learning, educators can equip students with the resources, skills, and experiences they need to succeed in their futures. Sarah’s journey serves as a reminder of the transformative power of these experiences and the importance of integrating career exploration and hands-on learning into every student’s education.
Sarah’s path from high school uncertainty to her current role as Director of Marketing at Kuder demonstrates the power of work-based learning and college and career readiness in shaping a student’s future. By leveraging tools like Kuder Navigator® and gaining real-world experience through internships, Sarah was able to discover her career path, build the skills necessary for success, and ultimately lead others on the same journey.
As educators, counselors, and administrators, we have the power to provide students with the clarity, tools, and opportunities they need to navigate their futures with confidence. By integrating work-based learning into the curriculum and promoting college and career readiness, we can ensure that students are equipped to succeed in whatever paths they choose—just like Sarah did.
Contact our team to learn more about how we can partner to empower your students.
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