As high schoolers prepare to enter the workforce, two often overlooked, but absolutely essential, skills can determine their long-term success and well-being: the ability to advocate for themselves and the ability to manage stress effectively. These aren’t just career skills, they’re core components of mental health, and teaching them early can have a powerful impact on how students show up in every part of their lives.

In our newest College & Career Readiness curriculum, Future Ready, we’re excited to support students in developing these foundational habits with practical, engaging lessons that help them thrive both now and in the future.

Why Self-Advocacy at Work Matters

Many students don’t realize that advocating for themselves, whether at work, in school, or in their personal relationships, isn’t about complaining or being difficult. It’s about communicating needs clearly and respectfully. It’s about confidence, boundaries, and clarity when something isn’t working.

Self-advocacy helps students:

• Ask for the resources or support they need to succeed.
• Speak up in uncomfortable situations while maintaining respect and professionalism.
• Recognize that saying what they need is not just okay, it’s a critical career skill

In our new Self-Advocacy in the Workplace session, students explore real-life scenarios that help them practice this skill in action. Whether navigating conflict with a coworker or requesting a schedule change, students learn how to:

• Reflect on their challenges
• Plan their approach
• And take meaningful, respectful action
  
  

By the end of the session, they’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of what self-advocacy looks like and the confidence to apply it in real life.

Managing Stress: A Career-Long Skill

Stress at work is inevitable. Burnout doesn’t have to be.

In today’s fast-paced, always-on work environments, students must learn to manage stress in ways that promote resilience, productivity, and mental health. Our Managing Stress in the Workplace session helps students:

• Understand the difference between proactive and reactive stress management
• Identify which stressors are within their control
• And practice strategies they can use immediately to stay grounded and focused
  
  

From breathing techniques to creating a personal “Stress Toolkit,” these sessions give students the tools to show up well—not just at work, but in every area of their lives.

What to Expect in the Curriculum

Self-Advocacy and Stress Management are just two examples of the practical, real-world skills students build through our new College & Career Readiness curriculum, Future Ready. Across the program, students practice different habits, mindsets, and critical life skills, preparing them for a successful future.

When students learn to advocate for themselves, manage stress, and develop future-ready skills, they’re not just planning for a career; they’re building the foundation for a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Both sessions are grounded in Future Ready Standards, aligning with what students need most: skills that support strong performance, positive relationships, and long-term well-being.

Because when students learn to advocate for themselves and manage stress, they’re not just prepared for their first job, they’re prepared for life.

👉 Explore Samples from Our College & Career Readiness Curriculum
👉 Learn More About CharacterStrong’s Future Ready Approach