Making choices/options
There comes a time in our schooling when we have to start making decisions about our future. Some of us are blessed and know what we want to do with our lives from a young age - or have a fair idea where our talents lie by
the time we take these options so that we can structure our potential future around that.
Personally I wanted to be a nurse from the time I was 3. So I took options that equipped me in social skills nad sciences. I looked at what A levels I would need to take and what would be needed to get me into the course I wanted to do.
My youngest brother wanted to be a lawyer from age 4. When he took his options he did similar to me, but also has a great talent for music. So he did appropriate subjects and then went to do a combined degree. Law and music. Eventually he dropped the law and graduated with honours in the music and has shelved the law for another day. Right now he is about to enter the army and has to learn the clarinet so he can join their marching band!!!
A friend of mine this year started a course in theology at university. She still has no idea what she wants to do, but she has a great talent for languages and she has a love of God, so she has decided to see what is available for her in the realm of bible translation and that is what she is working towards right now.
As a parent/guardian/friend what can we do to help this decision making process?
Encourage their dreams - no matter how far fetched they seem to us.
Find out what subjects they love to do
Find out what they hope to do with their future.
One of my youth group, summer 2006, said she wanted to do fitness of some sort, but didnt know if she wanted to be an instructor or a school phys ed. teacher. So we explored the possibilities and she went home to talk to her parents about it. Next summer she will make her choices - hopefully they will be ones where she can follow her dream.
Outside help:
There are organisations that exist to judge character and cognitive ability
There are organisations that exist to help young people find courses or careers and what to do to get those jobs
Schools have these contacts, but there are also other places that are not always directly linked into the schools, but they are all listed in local yellow pages etc
Colleges and Universities also have career advisors which may possibly be able to be accessed
UK based advice websites - there are also centres associated with them
http://www.connexions-direct.com/
http://www.learndirect.co.uk/
http://education.independent.co.uk/careers_advice/
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/adviceforkidsandteens/Advice_for_Children_Teens_and_Parents.htm
US based websites:
http://www.quintcareers.com/teen_jobs.html
http://www.kidzonline.org/streamingfutures/
(If there are other useful websites out there let me know. This was just what I have used in the past and a couple that I found while I was searching for those ones I have used and thought looked like they may be good too. If they are not good please let me know and I will take them off naturally)
Peace.
EF.x
(December 2006) (
