November Issue 109
www.thenewsyneighbour.com
by Gaylene Smith with McBride Career Group
At what grade should we start encouraging our children to
begin planning for their career futures? When I was an EA in kindergarten, one
of the best things was hearing about what the kids wanted to be when they grew
up. The fact that Ninja Turtles and princesses were popular career choices
leads me to believe that perhaps career planning should wait for a few years
post kindergarten.
But when should we start encouraging our kids to being
really looking at what they want to do for a career?
My eldest is in seventh grade this year and I am beginning
the process with him. Now, you might wonder, why so early? And isn’t he likely
to change his mind a half dozen times between now and next Friday? Maybe, but
this is how I see it. In grade seven, students begin to pick their options;
construction or media, French or cosmetology, band or food sciences? Marks
begin to dictate your ability to take certain courses in high school. Squeak by
in junior high science with a 55%, odds are you won’t be taking Chemistry and
Physics 30 in high school, which may be an entrance requirement to get into the
post-secondary program of your choice.
If your child is leaning towards a
career in the trades, then they should really look into the RAP Program. The RAP program is a good
way for high school students to see what's out there and get some work experience
in a trade of their choice. The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a great first step toward a career and students can
complete their first year of an apprenticeship while still in high school. It’s
a great program.
However, without an end goal (career) in mind, motivating
your junior or senior high student can be a challenge and they can
inadvertently close doors by not taking the right entrance courses while in
high school. I strongly recommend having your child meet with either their
school counsellor or a career coach and begin some career assessment
activities. Designed to help individuals learn what occupations may or, may not,
be a good fit for their passions, strengths and life style, career assessments
help individuals answer that big question; what
do you want to be when you grow up and provides them with the steps and
resources needed to get there.
At McBride, we would be happy to help your child, or you,
explore the plethora of career options available. As for my son, he is thinking
of joining the RCAF and pursuing a career as a pilot and if that doesn’t pan
out, becoming an elementary school teacher, or maybe, just maybe, being a ninja
turtle.
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