As Generation Z redefines what it means to “succeed,” the traditional playbook is being discarded in favor of something rather more dynamic. Continuing to challenge the establishment, a recent study by Walton Family Foundation (WFF) and Gallup found that 43% of students in grades K-12 now have their eyes on a future that doesn’t require a university degree. Despite growing interest in alternative paths, fewer than one in 4 of those students have had productive conversations about options beyond college, leaving many in the dead of night about what lies beyond high school.

“Gen Z students in K-12 feel unprepared for their futures, and with only about a quarter having meaningful conversations about paths beyond college, it’s clear why,” Stephanie Marken, Gallup’s senior partner for U.S. polling, explained in a press release. “While a post-secondary education path makes sense for many, it’s not the right path for everyone right out of high school, and what we’re learning from this research is that students don’t have a complete picture of their options after high school.”

With only 23% of school students reportedly talking about internships, certificates, or skilled programs, the widespread lack of knowledge about non-college futures leaves students feeling not only unprepared but demotivated. After falling victim to the dearth of diverse post-graduation paths early in her profession, former celebrity stylist Taj McGill pledged to bridge the gap between aspiration and information by founding South Florida Fashion Academy (SFFA)In a situation where traditional guidance often fails, SFFA steps in, offering not only education, but additionally a transparent, tangible road map to success in the style and beauty industry.

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What began in 2018 as an after-school program for teens to network and learn from industry experts has expanded right into a full-time, private, dual-enrollment middle and high school offering as much as $7,000 in scholarships to assist students pursue their dreams. Combining the pains of traditional academics with the hands-on training of a vocational school, SFFA provides students with the chance to explore their passions while learning all the elemental skills essential to excel.

Open to all students, the center and high schools offer a traditional curriculum and a vocational program. Once students reach eleventh grade (third yr), they’ll apply to the academy’s dual enrollment program, which allows them to explore electives similar to fashion merchandising, hairdressing, cosmetology, and more. Through the unique program, high school students can work toward diplomas while also working toward state certifications within the industry. Just because the academy invests in on-campus labs and tailoring salons for this system, it emphasizes the importance of core academic subjects for its students.

“They’re still getting the basic academic knowledge. That’s basically the only way they can get into our dual enrollment program,” the academy’s founder and fashion director explained. “We want to send students out into the world who are emotionally and academically healthy and (know how to) develop their creativity.”

In addition to Gen Z’s shift toward a non-college future, the daunting reality of today’s job market further proves the worth of trade schools and profession programs like SFFA. Experts say the present labor market’s difficult circumstances point to a possible “white collar recession” reflecting a surge in full-time jobs that always require more education. While a high school-to-college path can have once guaranteed a lucrative profession, McGill encourages parents to contemplate the worth of trade programs “because there are people (working in) trades who (sometimes) make more money than college graduates.”

While college continues to be a protected option for high school graduates, McGill emphasizes that it shouldn’t be the one path to success. At South Florida Fashion Academy, 42 percent of students pursue entrepreneurship after graduation, while others proceed their education at fashion design schools (31 percent) and traditional four-year colleges (18 percent). No matter where life takes them after graduation, McGill says the academy’s doors are at all times open to support graduates, whether through mentoring or continuing education courses. A portion of the South Florida Fashion Academy campus, committed to nurturing the following generation of creative pioneers and entrepreneurs, is devoted to Innovative Heights Preparatory Academy, private kindergarten and primary school with an emphasis on performing arts.

“We’ve created an environment where they can be themselves in a creative way. I think all kids need guidance (without adults putting obstacles in their way) about what (they) think students should be doing — or what they expect students to do,” McGill said. “We really have to understand that this is a new day, a new time, a new era and definitely a new generation, and we just have to meet them where they are.”