Sophomore Guide to College and Career

matching interests to future colleges and careers PLANNING FOR SUCCESS

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply.

Willing is not enough; we must do.”

JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

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hat comes to mind when you envision your future career? Do you see crisp business suits, the shores of an exotic island, or feel the bright lights of the stage? Is the canvas blank—waiting to be painted? You may think the future is so far off that you don’t need to start planning for it now, but it’s never too early for exploration. Tomorrow needs today!

It’s okay if you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up or have a clear vision of your future, because figuring out what you want to do is a process.

Process: n. a series of actions directed toward a particular aim

The sooner you begin the journey of figuring out who you are and who you want to be, the more rewarding and less stressful your life will become. The more you plan now, the more you’ll thank yourself later.

honoring your talents

I

t’s important that you honor your gifts and talents by taking them seriously. When you’re talented at something, it’s easy to assume anybody can do it—that it’s no big deal. But that’s not true. Skills or abilities you have and take for granted may actually be a important clues to finding your dream job. Your life is full of opportunity; the passions and talents you have now can be applied to careers in the future. Anything you like to do can be built on as a future career.

Honor: tr. v. to regard or treat with esteem or respect.

For example, let’s say you like to eat. You can build on this enjoyment by becoming a professional chef, a food taster, or a restaurant reviewer. Whoever said jobs should be boring? All those careers fall broadly on the spectrum of life pursuits. Seeking true happiness means embracing your gifts and talents and beginning to see the possibilities of where they could lead.

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matchmaker

W

hen you buy an outfit for a special occasion, say a homecoming dance, you automatically try to coordinate each piece so everything matches. You don’t need to see many televised episodes or magazine photos of “What Not to Wear” to realize that coordinating your wardrobe does make a difference in your overall appearance.

For a guy, this might mean making sure his tie and socks are in sync. A girl might work at coordinating her jewelry, make-up and nail color.

Matching your gifts and talents to colleges and careers is similar to coordinating a terrific outfit. It doesn’t happen by accident.

Careful planning is involved to match your personality and interests to academic majors and careers. Consider the following story about Emily.

From an early age, Emily knew she was different from most girls. While her friends spent hours playing with dolls and dressing up in their mothers’ high heels, all Emily wanted to do was watch and play sports. During football and basketball seasons, she rarely missed any of her favorite teams play, learning the rules of the games and always eager to commentate on them.

As a freshman in high school, Emily earned the position of kicker for her high school’s JV football team and played guard on the girls’ basketball team. As her teammates continued to grow taller and stronger throughout high school, Emily stayed small, unable to keep up with the physical demands of her peers. During her senior year, she seriously contemplated the possibilities of her future. She wanted to pursue a sportsrelated profession, but knew she would have a difficult time making it in the pros. She spent time researching sports-related careers, ultimately deciding to pursue a degree in sports broadcasting.

Reporting from the sidelines and interviewing her favorite players seemed like a wonderful future to Emily!

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The first step to figuring out your strengths now is to notice what you love to do, your personal preferences, and the kinds of environments that inspire you. Knowing these things can help shape your future in the best possible way. Some people are mismatched in college majors and jobs that really don’t suit who they are. Learning more about who you are today will help you figure out where you want to be tomorrow.

Conversely, knowing what you don’t like to do and being clear and realistic about your shortcomings is also helpful. As you learn more about yourself, you’ll discover the information you need to pursue your dreams and goals. It will then become easier to match your interests to different careers. See the appendix in the back of this book for a list of resources for assessing career interests.

exploring ideas for your future career Review the following list of careers. Circle five that appeal to you.

Ask yourself why they look interesting to you. Out of the five you select, pick two and conduct research on each. Find out anything and everything about them: basic job description, the kinds of degrees most often associated with the professions, where geographically the jobs are highly concentrated, what the pay level is for entry level employees, etc. Next, come up with as many reasons as you can for why you think you would be good at and enjoy these professions.

1. Actor

8. Anthropologist and Archaeologist

2. Administrative Assistant/Secretary

9. Architect

3. Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations Manager

10. Athlete

4. Aerospace Engineer

12. Barbers and Cosmetologist

5. Agricultural and Food Scientist

13. Camera Operator and Editor

6. Aircraft Pilot

14. Carpenter

7. Announcer

15. Chef

11. Automotive Technician

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16. Chemical Engineer

46. Medical Scientist

17. Chemist and Materials Scientist

47. Meteorologist

18. Community Organizer and Activist

48. Multimedia Artists and Animator

19. Composer

49. Musician and Singer

20. Computer Programmer

50. Paralegal

21. Conservation Scientist

51. Park Ranger

22. Curator

52. Pediatrician

23. Dentist

53. Personal Financial Advisor

24. Desktop Publisher

54. Pharmacist

25. Detective

55. Photographer

26. Editor

56. Police Officer

27. Electrician

57. Private-Practice Lawyer

28. Elementary, Middle, and High School Teacher

58. Psychiatrist

29. Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic

60. Real Estate Broker and Sales Agent

30. Fashion Designer

61. Registered Nurse

31. Federal Agent

62. Ship Captain and Marine Pilot

32. Financial Advisor

63. Special Education Teacher

33. Firefighter

64. Sports Coach and Scout

34. Flight Attendant

65. Stockbroker

35. Foreign Service Officer

66. Surgeon

36. Funeral Director 37. Geographer

67. Telecommunication and Radio Technician

38. Historian

68. Translator

39. Interior Designer

69. Travel Agent

40. Interpreter

70. Urban and Regional Planner

41. Judge

71. Veterinarian

42. Landscape Architect

72. Web Designer

43. Librarian

73. Welder

44. Massage Therapist

74. Wildlife Technician

45. Mathematician

75. Writer

59. Railroad Conductor

Source: www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/

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Keep in mind, there are thousands of jobs out there. This list of 75 possible careers is to jump start your thinking. This mind map shows how different areas of study can apply to the same job.

exhibit 4.1 Areas of study and their applications.

AEROSPACE ENGINEERS

CARPENTERS

FIREFIGHTERS

Aerospace Engineering Physics Computer Engineering Mechanical Engineering Nuclear Engineering

Carpentry Civil Engineering Construction Management Electrician Construction Technology

ADVERTISING, MARKETING, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

CHEFS

Emergency Medical Technology Fire Protection and Safety Technology Fire Science Police Science Public Administration

Business Administration Advertising Marketing Psychology Public Relations Mass Communications

Culinary Arts Food Science Nutrition Sciences Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies Restaurant and Culinary Management

ARCHITECTS

COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS

Architectural Engineering Architecture City, Community, and Regional Planning Civil Engineering Construction Technology Interior Design Landscape Architecture

Computer Programming Computer Science Computer Software Engineering Mathematics Information Science Informational Technology

BARBERS AND COSMETOLOGISTS

Communication and Rhetoric Graphic Design Web Development Printing Management

Cosmetology Entrepreneurial Studies Fashion Design Massage Therapy Fashion Merchandising

DESKTOP PUBLISHERS

FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS

Global Studies International Business International Relations Prelaw Studies Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies Political Science and Government HISTORIANS

America Studies Archaeology Classics European History History Political Science and Government U. S. History Women’s Studies

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JUDGES

METEOROLOGISTS

STOCKBROKERS

Anthropology Economics English History Philosophy Political Science and Government

Astronomy Broadcast Journalism Environmental Science Geology Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Physics

Business Administration and Management Economics Finance Marketing Applied Mathematics Statistics

LIBRARIANS

PHARMACISTS

TEACHERS

Art History, Criticism, and Conservation Database Management Education Information Science Library Science Library Technology

Biochemistry Biomedical Engineering Biotechnology Molecular Biology Neuroscience Prepharmacy

Education Elementary School Teaching High School Teaching Middle School Teaching Psychology Special Education

PHOTOGRAPHERS

TRANSLATORS

Art History, Criticism, and Conservation Art Teacher Education Film Production Journalism Photography Studio Arts

Comparative Literature Creative Writing Foreign Language Teacher Education Linguistics Technical and Business Writing

POLICE OFFICERS

URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNERS

MASSAGE THERAPISTS

Athletic Training Exercise Science Massage Therapy Occupational Therapy Physical Education Teaching and Coaching Physical Therapy MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND PARAMEDICS

Emergency Medical Technology Nursing (RN) Practical Nursing Premedicine Surgical Technology

Corrections Criminal Justice Forensic Science Sociology Law Enforcement Administration Police Science

Architecture Environmental Studies Urban Studies Landscape Architecture City, Community, and Regional Planning

PSYCHIATRIXSTS

WEB DESIGNERS

Biology, General Chemistry Neuroscience Nursing (RN) Premedicine Psychology Social Work

Computer Graphics Computer Programming Design and Visual Communications Studio Arts Graphic Designs Web Development

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being proactive

P

lanning for the future doesn’t mean putting fun on hold. The possibilities are limitless for enjoying today while planning ahead. Being proactive about college planning translates into a meaningful career later. To make the process of preparing for life after high school a little less daunting, create a set of guidelines for your future. You can break down your dreams into specific goals and actions you can take. Outlined below are a few ways you can learn more about yourself and what you like to do.

Proactive, v. acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or

hanges.

jobs and volunteer experiences

A

lthough any type of community service or job will teach you something valuable about yourself, seek jobs and volunteer opportunities that will build on your interests and allow you to explore and expand on them. Live life consciously. Don’t pick a random summer job or organization to participate in just because your friends are doing it.

Choose valuable experiences that present you with new opportunities for learning and growth. Conscious living means being aware of all that’s possible for you instead of mindlessly cruising through life just letting things happen.

For instance, you could take a job as a camp counselor over the summer working with younger kids. Not only will you get to be outdoors, you will get to be a mentor to others, show them what you love, and learn to work as a team and with kids, all at the same time. Through your experience, you will learn more about nature and discover whether you really love teaching, or work-

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ing with children. One of the best ways to learn something is by teaching it to someone else.

The U.S. Department of Labor website at www.bls.gov offers tips for finding jobs that relate to your personal interests and hyperlinks to other helpful resources. Spend time exploring, taking notes and reading about jobs that captivate your heart and your interests.

training and certification programs

T

raining and certification programs are another way to deepen your expertise and develop your skills. If taking care of people is your passion, classes are available to you to receive training in CPR and First Aid certification. Perhaps you enjoy hanging out by the pool and are a good swimmer. You can become certified to be a lifeguard. See the sample list of training programs in the Appendix of this book.

There are many resources available locally to you, some of which your school counselors can give you. You can join professional organizations for practically anything from photography to dirt bike racing. All you need to do is talk to people in your community or research programs online. Take the initiative to do something that will allow you to grow and learn.

Initiative, n. an introductory step; energy or aptitude displayed by action.

hobbies

H

obbies are great ways to explore your interests and have fun. Working at a place relevant to your hobby allows you to spend time in an atmosphere you enjoy with other people who share the same or similar interests. For example, if you enjoy sports and physical fitness, then consider working at a recreation center or health food store. Another idea is to sell what you make and use the proceeds to help fund a cause in your community.

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Hobby, n. a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in

especially for relaxation.

In the last chapter, we discussed entrepreneurship. Many people have turned their hobbies into viable careers. Figuring out the career potential of your hobby will require some creative thinking. The following activity can help you get started.

Source: Adapted from www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2001/Fall/art01.pdf

linking your hobby to a career Answer the following questions about your selected hobby.

1. Is it possible to sell whatever it is that you make or do?

2. Can you teach others how to do your hobby, and would they be willing to pay for the instruction?

3. Can you find a job repairing equipment that relates to your hobby?

4. Do you know people who share your interest that you discuss your hobby with?

campus communities

C

reating communities within your school through clubs and extracurricular activities is another constructive way to plan ahead and have fun while you’re doing it. Your school’s counseling office already has a list of clubs available for you to join. If what’s offered at your school doesn’t interest you, you could start a club of your own. Being an active participant in your school’s activities, or helping to create a new club, is an excellent way to learn more about what interests you and how to collaborate with other people. Activities like knitting, Tai Chi, African drumming, or hip-hop can be both fun and educational. Also, extracurricular activities look good on any future applications you fill out.

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Collaborate, intransitive v: to work jointly with others or together

especially in an intellectual endeavor

Your high school is a great place to broaden your experience base and explore things you might love. Following is a list of clubs and extracurricular activities found on high school campuses across the country—some obvious and some not so obvious.

Choose at least three that may interest you (or you are already a member of).

SAMPLING OF COMMON CLUBS & EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

4H

School Newspaper

Art

ROTC

Athletics

Theatre

Book

Delta Epsilon Chi Association (DECA)

Chess

National Honor Society

Debate Team

Junior Achievement

French

Rotary International

Key Club

Science

Knitting

Student government

Media

Technology

Music

Yearbook

SAMPLING OF LESS COMMON CLUBS & EXTRACURRICULARS

Anime

Fencing

Caribbean

Kendo

Crossword Puzzles

Laughing/Humor Club

Culinary

Sudoku

Current Events

Students for Human Rights

Dance Revolution

Step Team

Foreign Film

Study Abroad

Hip Hop

The following mind map shows different interests you might have and the subject areas in school that match them.

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exhibit 4.2 Matching interests to subject areas.

BUILDING

Architecture

NATURE MUSIC

FILM

Instrumental

Making

Popular

Watching

Carpentry Metalworking

www.fakeaddress.com

Activities Animals

Singing

Preservation

www.fakeaddress.com www.fakeaddress.com

ENGLISH

LEADERSHIP

Book Club

Government www.fakeaddress.com

Reading

interests

Newspaper

Helping Others www.fakeaddress.com

CARS

SCIENCE

Collecting

Earth Science

Driving

Physics

Writing

Fixing

Robotics

FASHION

www.fakeaddress.com

www.fakeaddress.com Critiquing Design

COMPUTERS

MATH

Modeling

Gaming The Internet

Chess Club THEATRE

SPORTS

Acting

Classes

Directing

Non-team Sports

Technical

School Teams

Programming

www.fakeaddress.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Problem Solving

Theatre Club

Team Sports

As Art

Scriptwriting

Creating

www.fakeaddress.com

www.fakeaddress.com www.fakeaddress.com

Photography Club

Games

www.fakeaddress.com

FOOD

Cooking Eating

www.fakeaddress.com

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college majors

A

college major is a program made up of classes that will allow you to explore and focus on a certain field of academic study. As a college freshman, it is important not to panic or jump into an area of study that doesn’t interest you. You usually have until the end of your sophomore year in college to declare a major. For instance, if your passion is communication, you can choose this as a major and take classes such as public speaking, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, group communication or debate.

Be open-minded and employ your curiosity as a guide while exploring career options. Our society loves choice, so there are plenty of options for you to pick from.

If you can’t narrow your major down to one choice, you can always claim dual or even triple major(s) or minor(s). Some colleges offer a first-year exploratory program for freshman students who are undecided and hesitant to declare their major. The exploratory program is a unique experience that provides close academic advising and a liberal education that nurtures a broad perspective of a variety of career options. Remember, your college major will probably only determine where you work for your first job. Selecting a college major does not forever carve your career in stone. Most careers do not require you to have one specific degree. You can major in any number of different areas for a given career field. Many people change jobs multiple times throughout their life, and the skills they develop throughout their unique journey gives them the ability to be flexible and morph those skills into a completely new career path.

The following action steps can help you pick a major: 1. Evaluation of your interests 2. Assessment of your personal abilities

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3. What you value in the work you do/specific job environment preferences 4. Career exploration (match skills/interests with job duties) 5. Determining which majors will lead to your desired career.

college requirements

E

very college has different requirements, and knowing what the school requires is essential to getting into your college of choice. For example, even though your high school may only require two years of foreign languages, some colleges won’t event consider an applicant without four years of foreign languages.

While you’re in high school, take electives that match what you think you’ll want to major in.

Colleges also specialize in training students for particular career fields. For example, if you really want to go into architecture, you’ll want to find a school that has a reputation for providing a great architect program. Not every school does.

Attending college fairs is a great way to compare colleges and explore your perfect college fit. Your school guidance counselor will know dates and locations when a college fair is being held in your area. College recruiters and admissions counselors are available at these events to talk with you about your interests. You can also pick up college literature to take home and show your parents. And it’s all FREE!

knowing your needs

J

ust as no two students are exactly alike (not even identical twins), so are no two colleges.

There are educational programs specially suited for students with special needs or disabilities.

Sometimes you have to be your own advocate.

Here’s an example of how one student did just that.

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being a self-advocate Luke Kirsten is a high school student with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). After being assessed by the Eaton Coull Learning & Publishing Group, Luke greatly increased his selfknowledge. He was able to better understand his strengths and weaknesses and learned to understand his learning and special needs.

“My advice to teachers of students with learning differences is to try to learn what you can about their problems so you can understand them better.”

Journal entry, February 2005

eo

k Lu

Luke was having a hard time in school. “If I try to just listen to the teacher without doing anything else at the same time, my mind darts off onto everything else that is going on inside (or even outside) the classroom.” Through an advocacy training program, Luke discovered that he learned best while doing something physical and practical, rather than just sitting and listening. Luke learned that he also liked being a teacher. “When my Skills Class turned into a sort of math/science remediation program in Grade 9, I found myself getting pretty bored because I actually understood those subjects pretty well.” ew Luke took the initiative to help other kids h it h r, T e h h t i s 6 yea r-old bro in the class who were not having such an easy time. Luke’s teacher noticed how helpful he was in the classroom and suggested he become a peer tutor in the future.

Luke also enjoyed helping out in a Saturday morning class for younger kids with ADHD. “I suggested lots of fun activities. I think they really enjoyed my high energy level, as well as seeing the living proof that you can survive, and even thrive, having ADHD.” Through self-advocacy, Luke learned to reframe his disability and make a positive plan for the future. He has appeared at

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various conferences and seminars to share his experiences of living with a learning difference.

Source: http://www.eclg.com/community_kirsten.php

If you’re struggling in an area, whether academic or social/emotional, seek help. There are many people and programs eager to help students achieve their best in school and in life. Please refer to our resource list in the Appendix section of this book about college programs for students with learning disabilities or attention deficit disorders.

When it comes time to picking a college to attend, you’ll want to investigate schools that offer services to meet your unique needs and interests. The next book in the LifeBound series, Junior Guide to Senior Success, discusses the college selection process and how to pick the best college for you.

funding—paying for college

A

s you determine what college you wish to attend, another important question to ask yourself is: “What is it going to cost, and how will I pay for it?” You should fill out your financial aid forms BEFORE you are accepted to a school. You can list multiple schools on your FAFSA form. Colleges may not be able to offer to give you a sufficient amount to pay for your education because they only have what the government has given them to distribute among thousands of other students.

Discuss your finances with your parents or guardian, and if need be, decide if you are willing to take out loans to cover expenses or if you should consider attending a more affordable school.

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Following is a list of resource options that will make paying for your education a little easier: ■

Grants: Are offered by most colleges based on financial need and fund availability and don’t need to be paid back.

■

Loans: This money needs to be paid back. Conditions are specific to whatever bank or government agency you borrow from. Loans also come with interest-rates that vary greatly and over time, add to the amount you owe your creditor (this expense is similar to credit card interest fees).

■

Scholarships: These awards vary greatly, depending upon a variety of specifications but they are usually based on your academic accomplishments or activities that you have participated in. Scholarships are available everywhere but it’s your responsibility to find them, use resources such as your guidance counselor, the Internet, and local organizations.

■

Federal-work study: Work-study is a federally funded educational aid program that provides money for students to pay for educational expenses that are not covered by other resources such as scholarships and grants. A work-study job allows you to work while you are enrolled in college and attending classes. The convenience of having a workstudy job is working on-campus or with organizations near your campus.

■

Internships: Internships are a great way to gain a realistic view of the career you’re thinking about entering. Most internship positions are unpaid, but interns receive valuable job experience, as they expand your social network with professionals in your field of interest. Internships are a great source for finding mentors who can offer plenty of valuable and honest insight about their jobs. Internships are also a great way to earn academic credit for college. Check with your college’s internship program office to see how many credit hours you can earn and how much they will cost.

Internships are designed to offer a professional learning

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experience, and therefore you may not be paid, but they usually offer a flexible work schedule.

share the journey

T

here are amazing stories people can tell you about where they came from and how they got from high school to where they are today. Ask your parents, teachers, coaches and neighbors about their experiences. If they went to college, ask them about their experiences in high school when they were your age preparing for the future. You can learn from things that went well for them, as well as the things they wish they’d done differently If they didn’t go to college or if they took some time off, ask them why they made the choices they did, and if they would change anything about their choices if they could.

Comparing and contrasting your experience to others’ is an excellent way to feel less pressured when thinking about the future. Sift through the advice and insight your role models, or others in your life, have to offer. Even if you don’t find someone you can relate to, be a courteous and an active listener. Don’t criticize people for their choices; they were vulnerable enough to share their lives with you. Stay open, learn and absorb without passing judgment. The following poem describes the value of sharing our stories.

“What’s Your Story?”

Every life and every heart reveals a story, if we only take time to listen; almost every smile hides a tear, but somehow, the clues we keep on missing.

When you look into someone’s eyes, try not to be fooled by what you see; instead, search for that seed in their soul, that uncovers the root of their journey.

See, what you may be surprised to find, is that their hurt may heal your wounds;

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their suffering may soften your pain, and their tragedy may even open your tomb.

Just when you thought no one could understand, here they stand traveling a similar path; just when you felt too embarrassed to breathe again, you found someone who could hold you and laugh.

Life was never meant to be easy, but whoever said it was meant to be endured alone; if we could only master the art of storytelling, we’d never have to search too long for a home.

Because empathetic hearts would be our sanctuary, open ears would be our refuge; other people’s tears would be our medicine, and our fears wouldn’t appear so huge.

So go ahead, ask me, What’s my story? and I promise I’ll tell you no lie; in fact, I can’t wait to tell you the whole truth, because my soul is slowly starting to die.

And after I soothe my spirit by telling you my story, I promise I’ll listen to yours; and maybe we can comfort each other, so neither one of us will have to suffer alone any more.

by Joe A. Martin, Jr. Copyright © 2003

what if you’re afraid?

D

on’t let yourself be intimidated by new experiences. If you don’t like something, try something else. Following is a story about a young man who changed his life path after reaching college. Keep in mind, you don’t need to wait that long to discover your passion.

Grazi thought he had it all planned out. All his life, he knew he would take over his father’s Italian restaurant. It had been in his family for generations, ever since his great-grandparents

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moved to America from Italy. Because Grazi was an only child, it was expected that he carry on the family business.

When he got to college, he noticed his roommate brought a guitar with him. Intrigued, Grazi asked him if he could try it.

“Sure,” his roommate said, shrugging his shoulders. Grazi had never played a musical instrument before, but he liked plucking at the strings of the guitar. His roommate offered to give him some lessons, and before he knew it, Grazi joined a band formed by some of the students in his dorm. He had a natural talent for music and felt electrified whenever he played. The grades in his business classes began to drop, as Grazi took little interest in them. He wanted to switch his major to music performance. His family was angered by this, but after realizing Grazi’s deep passion for music, they understood that Grazi was ultimately in charge of his destiny. Grazi doesn’t regret his decision—he is a now a professional guitarist and lives in Los Angeles.

Trusting your instincts and following your heart is essential when choosing a college and career path. While it might be difficult or even appear impossible to stray from the expectations of others, it is important for you to live your life in a way that will make you fulfilled and happy. Being informed is also essential to reaching your educational and career goals. That’s why taking advantage of everything that’s out there—from your school’s guidance office to interest assessments to college fairs— can help you find the college and career path that’s best for you.

checking in Reread the story early in this chapter on Emily, and answer the following questions:

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What did you learn from Emily’s story?

What do you think would have happened if Emily had suppressed her interest in sports?

Is there an interest or talent you have that you’re neglecting?

What can you do to develop or explore it more fully?