Well, I’ve spent a few weeks beginning my preparation of students for the April 29 Career Fair. In all classes, we’ve had conversations about the different dimensions careers can be measured on – not just salary, but field, workspace, benefits, and more (I sometimes refer them to the 4 “Ps” – Pay, Purpose, Place & Perks). Students should all know that a career is a very important, complicated, and personal choice everyone has to make. They should all know what a cubicle is, what the pros and cons of working in a cubicle are, and, before the career fair, two immensely important facts about the future: for the first time in American history, there aren’t enough young people to support the aging “baby-boomers”, so according to the Department of Labor, 1 out of 3 new jobs by 2022 will be in Health Services; also, the world is going to run out of gas sometime between 2040 and 2050, meaning there will be a greater need in the “green industry” – windmill and solar technicians, electrical engineers, etc. In addition, students should all understand from my lessons the STRONG role school (beginning in or before Kindergarten) will play in whatever career they eventually choose. They should all know that education is a key – the more education they receive, the more doors they will be able to open.
K-2 students have gotten the above, plus a solid rebuttal to classic sexist and ableist stereotypes. They know we have female firefighters and male nurses coming, and they heard the stories of Tim Harris (a restaurant owner in NM with Down Syndrome) and Richie Parker (a vehicular engineer for Hendrick Motorsports, of NASCAR fame, who has no arms). Our 3-5 students will be introduced to Tim & Richie after Spring Break. Instead, they have been busy studying different aspects of careers. They should each know their respective High School graduating class (2021, 2022 & 2023). This week, they received a copy of Careers Oregon 2014 magazine, which has tons of information about jobs, and is particularly relevant to Oregonians. 3-5 students are also slowly comparing some jobs. I’m rolling this chart (based on BLS data from the Occupational Outlook Handbook) out one job per lesson. They are about to get a shock when they see how the outlook for nurses leave other careers in the dust! The point that I hope they understand is the opportunity in Health Services.
The last thing I want to mention is that I will definitely need volunteers on the morning of the 29th to serve as ambassadors to our 40-or-so presenters. While some of the presenters are Ainsworth parents already familiar with the campus, most are not and, getting here at approximately the same time, they will need guidance beyond what I alone can offer.
Please contact me if you are available.
As always, thanks – for more information visit my website or drop me an email.
-Ben Hildner, School Counselor
K-2 students have gotten the above, plus a solid rebuttal to classic sexist and ableist stereotypes. They know we have female firefighters and male nurses coming, and they heard the stories of Tim Harris (a restaurant owner in NM with Down Syndrome) and Richie Parker (a vehicular engineer for Hendrick Motorsports, of NASCAR fame, who has no arms). Our 3-5 students will be introduced to Tim & Richie after Spring Break. Instead, they have been busy studying different aspects of careers. They should each know their respective High School graduating class (2021, 2022 & 2023). This week, they received a copy of Careers Oregon 2014 magazine, which has tons of information about jobs, and is particularly relevant to Oregonians. 3-5 students are also slowly comparing some jobs. I’m rolling this chart (based on BLS data from the Occupational Outlook Handbook) out one job per lesson. They are about to get a shock when they see how the outlook for nurses leave other careers in the dust! The point that I hope they understand is the opportunity in Health Services.
The last thing I want to mention is that I will definitely need volunteers on the morning of the 29th to serve as ambassadors to our 40-or-so presenters. While some of the presenters are Ainsworth parents already familiar with the campus, most are not and, getting here at approximately the same time, they will need guidance beyond what I alone can offer.
Please contact me if you are available.
As always, thanks – for more information visit my website or drop me an email.
-Ben Hildner, School Counselor