Majority of us enter into a career field without knowing most of the nuances, not fully understanding career growth, potential salary, work-life balance etc. Under normal circumstances most of us enter into a career area by friend's or parents' influence or with half baked information. With unique qualities, we parents are the most appropriate group to influence or guide or mentor our kids into career pathways that our kids can excel in. This can be achieved easily by dedicating some time from our busy schedule to answer some of our kids' questions or setting realistic expectations by explaining details of their professional life.
Below are some options and activities that can help students to gain insights into different professions:
Career talks by parents and guest professionals : Arrange parents and guest speakers from diverse professions to visit the school and share their career journeys. These speakers can discuss the skills, education, and day-to-day responsibilities etc of their jobs.
Job Shadowing : Establish job-shadowing programs where students spend a day or a few hours with professionals in their workplaces. This hands-on experience provides a real-world perspective on different careers.
Career Exploration Workshops : Conduct workshops or seminars that focus on career exploration, that can help students identify their interests, strengths, and potential career paths.
Internship Programs : For senior students, offer internship or apprenticeship programs that allow them to work alongside professionals in fields they are interested in.
Community Involvement : Encourage students to get involved in community service or volunteer work related to their career interests. This can provide practical experience and networking opportunities.
Among these options, career talks by parents and guest professionals is the best and most effective way to guide students in the career development processes.
Parenting is one of the most rewarding and challenging roles a person can undertake. As parents, we strive to provide the best possible guidance, support, and opportunities for our children. But what if we could do more? What if we could tap into the incredible potential of parents as mentors guiding students with career development, creating a nurturing environment that helps our children thrive?
We all are busy with our current schedules, that includes 40--60 hours of professional work and equal hours in taking care of kids and other chores, how can normal parents find time to spend to mentor other kids? To address this challenge, we designed a free online platform for parents and students to register their information. This will give parents an opportunity to mentor kids in the comfort of their homes and students an opportunity to gain insights on various professions.
Parents can positively influence the lives of kids in several ways, by serving as role models, mentors, advocates for their well-being etc. Offer mentoring to kids in areas where you have expertise or experience, and can direct/guide kids to achieve heights in a profession they want to be in. As parents, let us come together, actively engage and positively influence the lives of children in our community, by creating a supportive and nurturing environment that helps them grow, learn, and thrive. Your actions as a parent can have a lasting impact on the well-being and development of the next generation.
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