A couple of events lately offered young people the chance to gather information and ideas about what’s “beyond high school” for them.

The annual City-Wide College Night at Nansemond River High School on Monday featured representatives from more than 60 colleges and universities. But it wasn’t just higher education institutions — trade schools and several branches of the military were also in attendance to offer more information about what they do.

On Saturday, the North Suffolk Library held the Beyond High School Fair, which featured information about financial aid and scholarships as well as college representatives, trade schools and military recruiters but also lessons about budgeting — something with which more young people need to be familiar — and how to make cheap meals with limited resources in tight spaces such as dorm rooms or apartments.

These events also couldn’t come at a better time, when sophomores and juniors are taking the PSAT, SAT and other standardized tests, seniors are filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and stressing over looming application deadlines, and many high-school students are just trying to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their life — and whether that really requires a college degree.

Many excellent careers can be had with only trade school or on-the-job training. The military is another option for young people who are driven to serve our country and want a career that offers excellent benefits and many chances for career advancement.

Too often, young people are pushed toward college as the only viable option for “beyond high school” when college may not be the best place for them. Other times, students who go to college aren’t well prepared enough financially and may have been able to qualify for scholarships that they didn’t know about.

Events like the two that happened this week help provide all the information in one place so that students and parents know everything they need to know throughout this process.

Suffolk Public Schools and the Suffolk Public Library are to be commended for offering these opportunities and helping to provide the best start possible for our community’s students as they embark on their adult lives.