Finding the perfect career path is sometimes difficult. There are varied options available for pursuing careers that encourage your student’s creativity. If your student loves to cook, can draw really well or design games, these are all wonderful careers to be pursued that might “fit” outside of the box of higher education. Traditional college is not always the best choice for this type of student. The key to finding the right educational path is a) knowing their interests and b) finding the best educational path to take for their specific area of interest.

The culinary arts have become more appealing for high school graduates. There are numerous schools that provide the technical training to pursue a career as a chef. As you would imagine, the culinary arts are not just about cooking—they encompass all forms of creativity using edible ingredients. There are multiple job opportunities for a graduate of culinary arts: restaurant chef, pastry chef, personal chef, caterer, food stylist, nutritionist, and even cooking school instructor.

Another area of artistic talent would be in the photography field. This is an excellent career choice for students who enjoy shooting photos and learning ways of editing and developing. The industry is leaning toward more creative natural photo shoots outdoors as opposed to studio sittings. This helps to capture the personality of the subject. Community colleges, universities and even technical schools can help your student learn editing techniques and lighting: two important items that need to be perfected for successful photographers.

Many students have the mental aptitude and programming skills to design video games and/or apps. Check into game design colleges and discover the many areas of career pursuits in this field. Has your student ever had an idea for a game that would make it even better than it is now? Higher education can provide the necessary tools your student needs to pursue this type of career.

If your student has artistic talent, there is a good chance they will be able to turn that into a career. Remember to “think outside the box” with these type of career goals. The traditional 4-year college route might not be necessary. There are many technical schools, online colleges, and community colleges that offer 2-year degree plans with job placement opportunities. The key is to invest that college money properly so that your student will find a job that fosters their creativity while paying the bills

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Today’s guest post was contributed by Amanda Green, a freelance writer who normally writes on the topics of education, business, and personal finance. Amanda has been writing for multiple years on the web and enjoys writing on less serious topics like pets and crafting in her spare time! You can read more writing by Amanda at paidtwice.com