Week One/Chapter One

Reflecting on last week's class, I realized I have never really been exposed to career counseling or career development as a formal process.  I do not think it was for cultural reasons, and my high school guidance counselor was never a reliable or helpful resource.  Learning about the process makes me disappointed that I never had such resources.  I enjoyed the in-class activity of forming questions and asking our classmates.  It helped me identify what I think I already know or what would be helpful in a career counseling situation and what my peers find important as well.  

Brown’s (2012) first chapter integrated the current economical status of our world today with personal requirements in career counseling.  This context of career counseling did not coincide with the questions I prepared for my classmate.  Many of my questions reflected the subjective, not objective.  They did not take into account the economic situation in our current society.  While I did ask about specific skills and education, I did not take into account asking about specific cultural or socioeconomic barriers.

Brown’s explanation of the global economy, social barriers, and job market future was insightful, yet slightly depressing for someone in my generation to read.  The way he expressed the material made me feel as though we are doomed to live in a socially unequal society that has a withering job market with increasing debt.  I think this is one of the reasons I felt so disappointed that I never had career counseling as an adolescent or young adult to help me understand our nation’s economy and job outlook and how to integrate that with my skills, desires, and barriers.  When I think of career counseling, I generally associate it with integrating someone’s skills set, goals, and abilities to help them find their own path within their worldview.  I never took into account how the world may affect or hinder that path.  I think I may disregard this or block it out because I have chosen a path that does not lead to financial gains or possibly even pay for my college loans.

The final piece I would like to comment on is the section on “Why People Work” (Brown, 2012, p. 17).  Brown explained that people work for financial reasons, but that there other reasons people works as well (2012).  He explained religious reasons, how one connects to society, and personal gains such as self-esteem (Brown, 2012).  If I won the lottery and had all the money in the world, I might work a few hours a week if I like what I do.  If it happened to me right now, I would quit my job and stay in school.  I think it is important to understand the worldview of others, so I find it important and educational when information like this is in the text and class.  

Brown, D. (2012).  Career information, career counseling, and career development

            (10^th ed.).  New York: Pearson Education, Inc.