Bloch Article

In response to the reading, the first concept I felt connected to was the idea that humans continually search for patterns in an attempt to make sense of the world (Bloch 2005). In relation to careers, people often feel that there needs to be a logical connection between certain life experiences and the career they ultimately choose. However, due to the complex and chaotic nature of the universe, finding these patterns and being able to connect the dots is sometimes impossible, and though a person might not find the pattern they are seeking, they often incorrectly assume that they are an anomaly and that others are living in a patterned and logical world. As a result they tend to keep the true story of their career path a secret. If people were made aware that it is common to experience this inability to find a logical pattern, then this should alleviate at least some of the anxiety associated with living in chaos. It is always beneficial for people to come to the realization that they are not alone, and they do not have to keep their story a secret.

Also related to careers and chaos is the concept of phase transitions (Bloch 2005). Within the chaotic world there are havens of order which include work and school. These environments are relatively constant in that a person generally knows what to expect on a given day. The path that leads to these havens might not be completely logical and patterned, but once within the confines of this type of environment a person experiences relative consistency. These periods of consistency are not permanent, and a person can be thrust back into the chaos quite easily. I experienced a phase transition after graduating from college. Up until that point in my life, everything was essentially mapped out. From the time I started kindergarten, the expectation was that I would one day go to college. As a five year old, college seemed light years away, but I did my work so that I could get to the next grade. Things were relatively constant, and I took comfort in knowing that everything I was doing was so I could one day graduate from college. Years later on the day that I received my college degree I thought back to the kindergarten days and realized that I had achieved my objective. Along with that was the realization that I was no longer operating within the confines of my life’s goal. This was a scary thought because for the first time I did not have a destination. Since then I have struggled with trying to find order amidst the chaos, and I think this graduate program can be that haven for the next few years. Unlike my undergraduate career where I graduated without a plan, I hope to utilize the resources at Millersville and develop plans over the next several years in order to ease my next phase transition.

References

Bloch, D. P. (2005).  Complexity, chaos, and nonlinear dynamics: A new perspective on career development theory.  The Career Development Quarterly, 53, 194-207