{"id":1425,"date":"2016-09-02T20:33:52","date_gmt":"2016-09-02T20:33:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-collegesuccess\/?post_type=chapter&p=1425"},"modified":"2024-04-30T22:48:13","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T22:48:13","slug":"putting-it-together-career-exploration","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/chapter\/putting-it-together-career-exploration\/","title":{"raw":"Putting It Together: Career Exploration","rendered":"Putting It Together: Career Exploration"},"content":{"raw":"Success in college can be measured in many ways: through your own sense of what is important to you; through your family\u2019s sense of what is important to your collective group; through your institution\u2019s standards of excellence; through the standards established by your state and country; through your employer\u2019s perceptions about what is needed in the workplace; and in many respects through your own unfolding goals, dreams, and ambitions.\r\n\r\nHow are you striving to achieve your goals? And how will you measure your success along the way?\r\n\r\nThe US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the average worker currently holds ten different jobs before age forty. This number is projected to grow. A prediction from Forrester Research is that today's youngest workers will hold twelve to fifteen jobs in their lifetime.\r\n\r\nWhat jobs are in store for you? Will your work be part of a fulfilling career? What exciting prospects are on your horizon?\r\n

Transferrable<\/h2>\r\nWe close this\u00a0topic by sharing an essay by Vicki L. Brown, from Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom<\/em>. Her message is this: \"Do not let your college degree define who you are but rather, let the knowledge and skills you\u2019ve acquired define who you are.\u201d\r\n
\r\n

Transferrable<\/h3>\r\nI was supposed to be a teacher. Growing up, I had a classroom in the basement. I had a chalkboard, chalk, desks, textbooks, homework assignments, pens, pencils, paper\u2014you name it, I had it! My brother and sister called me \u201cMiss Brown.\u201d All I ever wanted to be was an elementary school teacher\u2014until I went to college.\r\n\r\nAs an elementary education major in college, I participated in a variety of classes\u2014classes on literacy, math and science, philosophies of teaching, child development theory, principles of education, foundations of classroom behavior, and a whole list of others. We learned how to write a lesson plan, manage a classroom, how to set up a classroom, and much, much more.\r\n\r\nIn addition to my studies, I got involved in campus life. I joined the swimming and diving team, participated in campus activities, and joined clubs. I served as a captain of the swimming and diving team, became an Orientation Leader and a Resident Assistant, and completely immersed myself in the college experience. It was through these co-curricular activities that I was introduced to the world of higher education and a potentially new career choice for myself.\r\n\r\nThrough my academic and co-curricular activities, I gained valuable knowledge from all those I came in contact with\u2014my peers, professors, Residence Hall Directors, and many college administrators. They encouraged me to explore what it was that I really wanted to do with my life. The more I got involved in my college experience, the more I learned about myself: what I\u2019m good at, what I\u2019m not good at, what I wanted to, and what I didn\u2019t want to do.\r\n\r\nAs I started to sort through my options, I continued my studies, receiving both a bachelor\u2019s degree and a master\u2019s degree in elementary education. While attending graduate school, I also worked as a Graduate Residence Hall Director. It was during that time when I finally made the decision to pursue a career in higher education administration\/student affairs administration and leave my plans of being an elementary school teacher behind.\r\n\r\nThe decision wasn\u2019t as difficult as one might think. When some listen to my story, I often hear, \u201cYou\u2019ve wasted all that time and money . . .\u201d But, the truth is I gained valuable, lifelong skills from the people I met, the classes I took, the jobs I\u2019ve had, and the activities I involved myself in. Each and every skill you acquire is transferable. This is perhaps the best lesson I\u2019ve ever learned in college.\r\n\r\nThe countless lesson plans I had to write for my education classes and student teaching have helped me prepare practice plans as the head coach for the men\u2019s and women\u2019s swimming and diving team. The skills I learned while planning programs and activities for my residents as a Resident Assistant, Hall Director, and Area Coordinator have helped me plan campus events as the Director of Student Activities in the Center for Student Leadership & Involvement. The classroom management techniques I learned in college have helped me to manage my office, staff, team, committees, etc. The communication and development theories I\u2019ve learned have taught me how to have meaningful conversations with others and how best to meet their needs.\r\n\r\nEach and every skill you learn throughout your academic, personal, and professional career are valuable and transferable. Do not let your college degree define who you are but rather, let the knowledge and skills you\u2019ve acquired define who you are.\r\n\r\n\u2014Vicki L. Brown,\u00a0Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

Success in college can be measured in many ways: through your own sense of what is important to you; through your family\u2019s sense of what is important to your collective group; through your institution\u2019s standards of excellence; through the standards established by your state and country; through your employer\u2019s perceptions about what is needed in the workplace; and in many respects through your own unfolding goals, dreams, and ambitions.<\/p>\n

How are you striving to achieve your goals? And how will you measure your success along the way?<\/p>\n

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the average worker currently holds ten different jobs before age forty. This number is projected to grow. A prediction from Forrester Research is that today’s youngest workers will hold twelve to fifteen jobs in their lifetime.<\/p>\n

What jobs are in store for you? Will your work be part of a fulfilling career? What exciting prospects are on your horizon?<\/p>\n

Transferrable<\/h2>\n

We close this\u00a0topic by sharing an essay by Vicki L. Brown, from Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom<\/em>. Her message is this: “Do not let your college degree define who you are but rather, let the knowledge and skills you\u2019ve acquired define who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Transferrable<\/h3>\n

I was supposed to be a teacher. Growing up, I had a classroom in the basement. I had a chalkboard, chalk, desks, textbooks, homework assignments, pens, pencils, paper\u2014you name it, I had it! My brother and sister called me \u201cMiss Brown.\u201d All I ever wanted to be was an elementary school teacher\u2014until I went to college.<\/p>\n

As an elementary education major in college, I participated in a variety of classes\u2014classes on literacy, math and science, philosophies of teaching, child development theory, principles of education, foundations of classroom behavior, and a whole list of others. We learned how to write a lesson plan, manage a classroom, how to set up a classroom, and much, much more.<\/p>\n

In addition to my studies, I got involved in campus life. I joined the swimming and diving team, participated in campus activities, and joined clubs. I served as a captain of the swimming and diving team, became an Orientation Leader and a Resident Assistant, and completely immersed myself in the college experience. It was through these co-curricular activities that I was introduced to the world of higher education and a potentially new career choice for myself.<\/p>\n

Through my academic and co-curricular activities, I gained valuable knowledge from all those I came in contact with\u2014my peers, professors, Residence Hall Directors, and many college administrators. They encouraged me to explore what it was that I really wanted to do with my life. The more I got involved in my college experience, the more I learned about myself: what I\u2019m good at, what I\u2019m not good at, what I wanted to, and what I didn\u2019t want to do.<\/p>\n

As I started to sort through my options, I continued my studies, receiving both a bachelor\u2019s degree and a master\u2019s degree in elementary education. While attending graduate school, I also worked as a Graduate Residence Hall Director. It was during that time when I finally made the decision to pursue a career in higher education administration\/student affairs administration and leave my plans of being an elementary school teacher behind.<\/p>\n

The decision wasn\u2019t as difficult as one might think. When some listen to my story, I often hear, \u201cYou\u2019ve wasted all that time and money . . .\u201d But, the truth is I gained valuable, lifelong skills from the people I met, the classes I took, the jobs I\u2019ve had, and the activities I involved myself in. Each and every skill you acquire is transferable. This is perhaps the best lesson I\u2019ve ever learned in college.<\/p>\n

The countless lesson plans I had to write for my education classes and student teaching have helped me prepare practice plans as the head coach for the men\u2019s and women\u2019s swimming and diving team. The skills I learned while planning programs and activities for my residents as a Resident Assistant, Hall Director, and Area Coordinator have helped me plan campus events as the Director of Student Activities in the Center for Student Leadership & Involvement. The classroom management techniques I learned in college have helped me to manage my office, staff, team, committees, etc. The communication and development theories I\u2019ve learned have taught me how to have meaningful conversations with others and how best to meet their needs.<\/p>\n

Each and every skill you learn throughout your academic, personal, and professional career are valuable and transferable. Do not let your college degree define who you are but rather, let the knowledge and skills you\u2019ve acquired define who you are.<\/p>\n

\u2014Vicki L. Brown,\u00a0Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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CC licensed content, Original<\/div>