Your story is still yours.

“I’m keeping that private.” “I don’t want advice right now.” “I’ll let you know if I want to talk.” You can decide how much to share.

Try: “I can help with this part, but I can’t carry all of it.” Being capable doesn’t mean you have to manage every grown-up problem.

You can care about someone and be upset with them. You don’t have to turn your experience into a neat story for other people.

Choose a trusted adult you feel safe talking with. You can start with: “I need you to listen before you try to fix it.” If that person isn’t safe or doesn’t listen, try someone else you trust.

1. Choose one college or program to explore. Write down what interests you and what you still want to ask.
2. On that school’s official admissions page, check its current deadline and required items. Requirements vary—use its checklist.
3. Make a tracker: school or program / deadline / documents needed / person to ask / next step / submitted.
4. Ask your school counselor how to request your transcript. If a recommendation is required, ask someone who knows your work, tell them the deadline, and give them time.
5. Draft required short answers somewhere you control. Answer the actual question and use one concrete example.
6. Before submitting, check names, dates, attachments, and every required question. Keep the confirmation.

Stuck on the personal statement?

Try this outline: Something I care about → one thing I did → what I learned → what I want to explore next. You can write about a project, a responsibility, a skill, or a small moment that mattered. You don’t owe anyone a painful family story.

“I’m working on my first college application. Could you help me check what I need and when it’s due?”

Use your counselor or the school’s admissions office for questions specific to that application. This page does not collect or submit applications.

1. Read the role, location, hours, and requirements. Write down questions before you apply.
2. Prepare an email address you check, your availability, school information, and a short list of experience. Use only the information the real application needs.
3. Experience can include school projects, volunteering, clubs, or responsibilities at home. Describe what you actually did; don’t invent a job title or dates.
4. Ask permission before listing someone as a reference. Use the contact details they agree to share.
5. Review spelling, dates, and availability. Save the job description and a record of where and when you applied.

“I’ve never had a job” can still have an answer

“This would be my first paid job. In our school project, I organized the task list and checked that our group was ready on time. I’m ready to learn your process.”

Adapt the example to something you have really done. If you’re unsure what a question means, ask a trusted adult or the employer to explain before answering.

Copy this outline into your own document. A clear, short résumé is a good place to start. Nothing is uploaded here.

Your name

Email you check · phone contact if appropriate · city or area if useful

Education

School or program · expected completion date if known · relevant classes or projects

Experience & projects

Role or project · dates
What you did + how you did it + a real result or contribution.

“Organized materials for a group presentation and helped the team finish by the deadline.”

Skills

List skills you can demonstrate: a language, a tool you use, organizing tasks, helping customers, or teamwork. Choose examples that fit the role.

Activities & volunteering

Include relevant activities and what you contributed. Leave out private family details. Ask a trusted person to proofread before you send it.

Say your answers out loud with someone you trust. You don’t need to memorize a speech.

• Tell me about yourself: what you’re doing now, one relevant strength, and why this opportunity interests you.
• Tell me about a challenge: what happened, what you did, and what you learned. Choose an example you’re comfortable sharing.
• Why this job? name something specific about the work and what you hope to contribute.

Your questions count, too

“What does training look like?” “What would a typical shift involve?” “What are the next steps?”

Beforehand: check the time, place or call link, your route, and who to contact if something changes. Afterward: note what you learned and any promised next step.

Choose just one: write down a deadline, ask a counselor a question, draft one résumé bullet, or practice one interview answer. You’re allowed to build this a piece at a time.