Week 7

          Before class this week, I mostly understood the Complexity and Chaos Theory, but discussing it with my small group and with the whole class was helpful. I enjoyed discussing the different attractors in my life and the lives of others because I think this is very helpful information for our clients. It will help them to become more self-aware and possibly break the cycle that they are currently in to find a more meaningful career. Another connection I made between class and the reading is with the case study of Jim. In his case, it would be potentially beneficial for the career counselor to search for occupational options based on physical characteristics. That being said, however, I am unsure if there are other careers that could be options for those with limited mobility that have not made the necessary adjustments to include a more diverse population so Jim may still want to consider other options if he believes he can find a place in a specific career.

            Brown’s (2012) chapter on using resources to help with career development may not have been the most exciting chapter so far, but I found it to be relevant and practical. While exploring what career my client wants to have is important, I cannot fully help him or her unless I can then lead them to be aware of careers that fit with their theme or interests. I think that it would be helpful for me (especially if I end up working with high school students) to make myself familiar with as many careers as possible. Many students (including myself as a student) are not aware of the vast array of possible jobs and I could help them by being more of an expert with this information. If a student is stuck in deciding what he or she wants to do, I can show that person a few options that he or she may not have known was an available.

            Using O*NET seems to be a helpful option for both career counselors and school counselors to use with clients.  The pieces that I think are particularly important are the working and occupation requirements. The high school students who have decided which career to pursue need to begin to plan for how they will achieve that job upon graduation. I think it would also be helpful for that student to understand what types of post-secondary classes they will need to take if going to a college or technical school after graduation. For example, someone who wants to be a nurse may want to take an anatomy and physiology class in high school if it is available. One part of me, however, thinks that discussing career in too much detail may put excessive pressure on students. The other part of me, however, thinks that it is much better for students to be completely aware of the information available so that they can make the best career choices for themselves.

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

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