What do you want to do when you grow up?

Many youth will go through 50 or more career decisions in year while growing up. This week it may be a policeman, next week a fireman, the next a wildlife biologist, etc.

Considering careers is good. However, a more important decision is to plan and make the decision for educational determination. In other words, make college or post-secondary education decisions in kindergarten and the career decisions will follow and can come much later.

For many with children, the word "college" invokes fear of pain in the wallet or a sea of information to wade through. The thought about college is also put off until high school and sadly for some thought to be out of reach.

Take heart, Sept. 22-26 is College Go Week. Learn More Indiana is led by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and is a partnership of state and local organizations working to help Hoosiers of all ages succeed in school, complete college and connect to careers. Several organizations, including Purdue Extension Putnam County, participate in Putnam County's own College Success Coalition group locally.

The truth is there are many means of assistance and hard work with planning still pays rewards. Get started early and start now with www.CollegeGoWeekIndiana.org tools and planning.

Get started in kindergarten. Make the decision to go to school, do well in school, complete high school and complete some sort of post-high school education. Regardless of past, one can still make the correct decisions moving forward if one missed making the decision early.

After making such decisions, it is important to have a plan. Plans of action that will help one accomplish the goals that are set forth for educational commitments. The website provides links to tools and resources to accomplish these tasks. Go visit this week to not only be eligible for prizes but to more importantly have a plan that will impact your destiny in life.

It is certainly true 4-H plays a huge role in developing life skills in youth. Merely the workshop and project experiences in 4-H provide hands on opportunities to learn and meet those who practice in various professions.

Additionally this past year, a new 4-H project titled "Career Exploration" was available to youth locally in Putnam County. It will start with making decisions, preparing education plans while also incorporating development of job seeking skills toward the upper-grade levels. It is an exciting project option and a dream I have is for youth to obtain a job or position as a result of work in the project.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week's column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee.

Upcoming events

Sept. 25 -- Extension Board meeting, Extension Office, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 -- Robotics Encounter, Scottsburg.

Oct. 4 -- 4-H Congress, Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Oct. 7 -- Putnam 4-H Council, Extension Office, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 13 -- Columbus Day holiday, office closed.

Oct. 29 -- Extension annual meeting, Fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 -- Online 4-H enrollment opens.

Jan. 15 -- Enrollment deadline for 2015 County/State Fair 4-H exhibit eligibility.