MAKE BETTER CAREER CHOICES

 “THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE
IS TO CREATE IT.” – Abraham Lincoln
 

Above lines makes us think about how puzzled we are in life to make our career choices. Yes, isn’t it true! That we are always in a state of mind where we decide something and end up with frustration and chaos. We do not know what to choose between so many careers choices. Our struggle starts in schools days when we enter grade 11 to choose between the streams as our future depends on that particular stream and hence we cannot return back once we start with the career. Parents start to pressurize their children as they see their Childs future. Some parents became successful to force their choices on their children whereas some do not. It is always better for parents to listen their child’s dreams for making better future choices instead of regretting afterwards.

The Indian school, the aim is not only to prepare the students academically but also at guiding them towards a rewarding and satisfying career. The school understands how imperative it is for students to identify their aptitudes, interests, career goals and aspirations in order to make well informed decisions regarding their higher education

Students are typically counseled in the following arenas –

Ø     Students are counseled about the various career options available to them.

Ø     Counseling enables the students to finalize a course and a country to study.

Ø     It enables the students to prepare for the various tests.

Ø     It assists in interpreting the deadlines related to admissions and tests.

Ø     It provides guidance about scholarship.

Career development helps in better vocational and overall development of individual. It also enables one to achieve success in professional as well as career goals. People who manage their careers in a positive manner are able to earn higher incomes; they can make job and educational choices. They are less stressed and able to cope with changes. They are well informed and successful.

Vocational guidance helps students to make decisions related to future career plans. It is assistance given to learners to choose, prepare for and progress in an occupation. It helps students to get right information about all aspects of vocation of their interests, to understand their own abilities and skills and helps them fit these to their chosen vocation.

Vocational development is essential for the individual. This is because it has been observed that the individual often changes his career path.

 It is better to always take help rather than burnout with making career choices.

COUNSELING FOR GROWING MINDS

 

A five year old child was abandoned by her parents and placed in a residential facility

for neglected and abused children. On one occasion, the caretaker of the institution became concerned when the child stayed up all night crying and vomiting. They brought her to the hospital the next morning. A pediatrician found nothing physically wrong with the child and referred her to me for mental health services. After introducing myself to the child, I asked her how she was feeling. She sat down put her head between her legs, and began to cry. It was most deep sorrowful sobbing I had ever heard. I leaned forward and gently touched her head, trying to comfort her. I could feel her pain. She looked up at me and appeared frightened and alone. I reached over and held her hand and told her I wanted to help her feel better. My heart reached out to her every day. She nodded in agreement. I worked with her in play therapy for several weeks. During that time, her depression gradually lifted.

Counseling is professional services provided to any individual who is facing a problem and needs help to overcome a problem, like the girl child mentioned above. This process of counseling helps individuals to find solutions to a problem and also helps in overall development of an individual.  Counseling is a process that involves two people – one is the counselor and other is a person wanting help. It enables a person to gain self understanding and develop self acceptance.

 Counseling is conducted with persons who are considered to be functioning well and those who are having more serious problems. It deals with wellness, personal growth, career and pathological concerns and meets the needs of a wide spectrum of people. They work in the areas that involve relationships. These areas include intra and interpersonal concerns related finding meaning and adjustment in such settings as schools, families and careers. Clients seem by counselors have developmental or situational concerns that require helped in regard to adjustment and remediation. Counselors focus on their client goals.

 Thus it involves both choice and change. In some cases ‘counseling is rehearsal for action’