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Quick Career Advice Reply 8. Students Need To See Meaningful Connection between School and Real Life Dear Ann: My son is not enthusiastic about going to college because he isn’t sure what he wants to do later on. We think he should go someplace where he can major in business, which will always be useful. What do you think? Given the cost of college, I’m dismayed that 44% who start never earn their first degree; and, of the brightest students, 50% take six years to graduate. Students often struggle when they fail to see a meaningful connection between going to school and real life. Parents can help by encouraging their teens to pursue a course of study—and eventually a career—that taps their natural abilities and interests. Unfortunately, parents often are not aware of some of these natural talents because the talents may never come to light in school.* For example, Tom graduated squarely in the middle of his suburban high school class. His lackluster ACT scores led to his being tested for his aptitudes. The tests showed he had a strong aptitude for working with three-dimensional problems, both theoretical and tangible: the classic engineering profile. Tom had never taken a class in school that required these abilities, but after learning that his strongest aptitude would not kick in until he got to calculus and beyond, he decided to explore math and economics in college. Tom graduated with honors in math four years later and won a scholarship to graduate school in industrial engineering. Five years later, he received his Ph. D. and found a job with the Environmental Protection Agency. I know about his story because I’m his proud mother. An objective assessment of your teen’s abilities—before deciding on an educational direction—is a good first step in choosing a career path. |
