6 8th Grade Career Development

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Career Development: 6-8th Grade

Goodman (2017) points out that in a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation survey, it was found that 62 percent of high school counselors had a ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ rating in as far as their ability to help students think about the various careers is concerned. Only 36% of high school counselors were given an ‘excellent’ rating by students. We should all aim to be in the ‘excellent’ rating category. Although the pressure to fit in and complex social dynamics are aspects that students in middle school could be grappling with, these same students are also at a stage in life where they are more appreciative of self-reflection as well as open and sincere engagements with others about the future. As a consequence, at this stage, there is need for us to become more intentional in as far as the creation of a college and career readiness culture is concerned. Burkins (2021) makes a finding to the effect that “middle school, when students’ quests for identity are on overdrive, is an optimal time to help students deeply explore the rich and diverse possibilities for futures that connect to the things that bring them joy” (20).

Some of the college and career readiness topics that I would want to include in the programs – with the target audience being grade 6-8 students – relate to;

Communication and collaboration: This is more so the case with regard to the need to communicate and engage with others in more effective formats at a time when technology appears to have had a negative impact on our ability to interact effectively with others.

Creative thinking: innovativeness and the ability to interrogate problems more deeply and find unique solutions.