Career Counseling for the Different Developmental Stages - Essay Example

ADVISING/CAREER COUNSELING FOR THE DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES FRESHMAN A freshman who has just joined college needs a lot of advice. This is because; this is somebody new in the institution and knows very little regarding his own surrounding. His first feelings, attitudes and perceptions would have a very great impact on his future life in the college. Among the areas he needs advices are: 1) CAREER One assumption I have made is that the college in question comprises of many career options that the students choose from. Of course a freshman already has a career in mind which he intends to pursue. Unfortunately he most probably might have not done a lot of research regarding his line of study before making the choice. I would start by asking the freshman the reasons as to why he chose the career. This can be due to personal interest on that area, persuasion/ influence from either parents or colleagues, being cheap in terms of cost, taking a short duration of time. It can even be that the freshman chose the career not basing it on any factors. My area of interest would be to ascertain the suitability of the career from the 'marketability' point of view. He should be able to choose a career that would enable him secure a job as soon as he finishes college. I would then encourage him to change his career if I realize that the one he has chosen may not adequately serve his needs as soon as he finishes college. 2) LIVING HARMONIOUSLY WITH COLLEAGUES I will stipulate to the freshman the need for living harmoniously with colleagues in college. Living peacefully with colleagues would enable him to always have a peaceful mind and be able to concentrate in his studies. Conflicts characterized with chaos, fights would not only adverse his performance in academics, but can make him either be suspended or expelled from college. Living harmoniously would - entail one or all of the following:- (i) Solving problems amicably with friends whenever they arise. I would encourage him to either consult his seniors or the administration in case of any problem. (ii) Avoiding areas of conflicts: - I would advice the freshman to stay aloof from situations that are likely to rekindle conflicts. - He who is far is not likely to be fallen by a tree. (iii) Offering his assistant if possible and only where applicable. He can do this through sharing his knowledge and skills with others and in cases of life saving. 3) ASSOCIATION WITH GOOD FRIENDS The entire life of the freshman would be greatly influenced by the kind of people/ friends he would be associating himself with. Friends are people who can easily influence someone's character, either positively or negatively. I would therefore urge the freshman to carefully choose the kind of people to associate with. He can do this by consulting the sophomores and other seniors if the people he wants to associate himself with are already known by them (sophomores and seniors). If they are fresher, then he can use his own judgment to determine whether they are good or bad, morally upright or to the contrary etc. I would further advice him to cling to people with vision and one goal - that of passing college exams and coming out successfully. In this respect I would advice him to completely avoid associating himself with students who take alcohol, smoke, and who involve themselves in other immoral activities. 4) SEXUAL RESPONSIBILITY This would be a very important topic as far as the new freshman is concerned. I would tell him the need to completely abstain from sex. Sex, being addictive would deviate his mind from studies thus deteriorating his performance. It can also earn him enemies because he might be competing with his colleagues and even lecturers for sexual partners. Worst of all, I would highlight to him; the dangers of engaging in sex irresponsibly one of them being contracting of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/ AIDS. 5) OBEDIENCE & ADHERENCE TO ESTABLISHED RULES I would advice the freshman to adhere to the generally established rules and regulations of the college. It is rules and regulations of the college that control students on what is right and what is wrong. They would determine the relationship between the freshman and other students and also between the freshman and the lecturers & other members of staff. When the freshman adheres to the rules and regulations it would be almost impossible for him to brush shoulders with any of the above mentioned persons. I would also advice him to obey his seniors as this would also earn him respect and make his stay in the college, a comfortable place to stay in. SOPHOMORE These are second year students in the college. Already they have passed through freshman's stage and are about to be seniors. Unlike the freshmen who have not/even identified a career, the sophomore has already settled on a particular career and is set to finish it. Among the areas of advice to a sophomore will be. 1) DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE I would advice the sophomore to start building up and advancing his career. He doesn't even need to lock back trying to advance is other careers as this would cause confusion. He needs to be very conversant with his career. He also needs to develop a lot of research in order to develop it. After all, what is important is being competent in the work place. In case specialization take place after the second year of college, then I would advice him choose the most suitable area of specialization, an area he would not find difficulties while pursuing it, an area he is good in, and above all, an area that would earn him a job easily upon completion of college. 2) ROLE MODEL I would urge the sophomore to put into contemplation that for everything that he does should be positive for his juniors (freshers) to learn/ imitate. He should be a role model for those aspiring to be recognized as graduate of the college. This would not only earn him respect, but also build confidence and morale to the new students. 3) LEADERSHIP Sophomores stand a better chance of leading other students in the college. This is because the seniors are very busy with their final year exams and the new students have a very little understanding of the institution. This leaves the sophomores as the best to serve as student leaders. I would advice the sophomore to use this grand opportunity to develop his leadership skills that he can use while outside college. 4) MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE It is not only the freshman who is supposed to adhere to the rules and regulations of the college. The sophomore should also maintain the level of discipline that he has been showing since joining college. This should not be a turning point on the pretext that they have passed through the freshman's stage. He should know that discipline ought to be maintained till he graduates from college. He should also show respect to the new students as well as the seniors. 5) HEALTH Like the freshman, I would also advice the sophomore to take care of his health. This he can do by first keeping boldly health and also avoiding immoral sexual behavior. 6) DRUG ABUSE I would not forget to council the sophomore on the dangers associated with drug abuse. If possible I'll give him examples of people who have either succumbed to or contracted severe diseases because of addiction to drugs including alcohol. JUNIOR Juniors are third year students in the college. They are above the sophomores but below the seniors. Juniors are the most vulnerable group of students in the college. They are usually the source of student unrest in colleges. I would give the following advice to junior. 1. UPHOLD CHRISTIAN VALUES I would advice the junior to uphold and follow the Christian values. These would help change their harmful desires and the negative attitudes they harbor concerning college life. These, they can practice through attending church service regularly and bible discussions in groups. 2. CAREER COUNSELLING I would advice the junior at this stage of development to completely bury his head in books and build his career. I cannot tell him at his point in time to start looking at which area to specialize in as it would be too early to do so. 3. SEXUAL IMMORALITY I would also concentrate my advice on the need for the junior to desist from any form of sexual immorality which would greatly hamper/ hinder his successful completion of studies. SENIORS The seniors are those students on the verge of completion of their courses. It is important for a senior to take every precautionary measure to disassociate himself with things that can distract and prevent him from his studies. After all he is almost finishing college! Among the pieces of advice I would give the senior are 1) STRESS MANAGEMENT A senior must be a stressed person owing to the number of years he has already spent in college. Having done quite a number of exam papers, a senior must be already bored with college life. Stress can also be caused by the continual adherence to the strict rules and regulations governing the college. I would advice the seniors is develop a positive perception and attitude towards the rules. I would also urge them to persevere doing the exam as they are not the only ones doing exams and that fruits always come after any struggle. 2) DEVELOPING CREATIVITY I would urge the senior to start developing creativity in themselves as they are about to 'face' the world. Like the advice to their junior counter-parts, seniors should also engage in researchers geared towards developing their future career. Depending on the area the senior had specialized at the junior stage, I would advice the senior to be innovative and able to come up with new ideas of doing things. It is only through this that he can be competent at the work place. 3) RESPECT OF JUNIORS Seniors normally have tendency of undermining their juniors in a number of ways. I would advice the senior to respect his juniors if at all he expects to be respected in return. But if a poor relationship exists between himself, the junior and the sophomores, then this can negatively impact in both his academic performance as well as his stay in the college. He should not only respect his juniors, but also his lecturers and administration staff as well. 4) ADVICE TO THE ADMINISTRATION It is apparent that seniors have vast experience on college matters. They may understand the problems affecting the freshmen, sophomores and juniors more than the administrative staff itself. Because of this, I would advice the senior to be in the forefront in the team bestowed that responsibility of offering vital information that would help solves certain pertinent issues. SIMILARITY AND DIFFERENCES OF THE ADVICE ACROSS DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES The advice given to the different groups of students differs when advising them on their careers. Whereas for a freshman the advice focuses on how to choose the best career option, for the sophomore the emphasis is building the already chosen career. The advice changes to specialization as you move upwards to the junior and senior levels of development. As for the advice on good health and avoiding immoral sexual behavior, the advice is the same for all levels of development. Another similar advice for all is that of respect to colleagues, to his juniors and to his seniors as well. References Abel, J. (1980: Academic Advising: - Goals and a Delivery System: Journal of College Student Personnel, XXI, 2, March, 1980, 151-155 Brown, W. F. (1972): Student-to-Student Counseling: - An Approach to Motivating Academic Achievement, Austin, Texas: The University of Texas Press Scott, R. A. (1998): Advising Students Who Have Personal Problems: In Advising Skills, Techniques, and Resources. By David S. Crockett: Iowa City, Iowa: The American College Testing Program, 1988 Young, D. P. (1982): Legal Issues Regarding Academic Advising: NACADA Journal, II, 2 November, 1982, 41-45. Read More