Career Exploration

Career Exploration

What do you want to do when you grow up? Young people throughout the developed world are faced with this daunting question with little thought to the fact that there are places in the world where youth have little to no career choice. 

By John Steinbach
Middle/ High School Counselor


For many, it isn’t so much about choosing a career path as it is about doing things each day to be able to eat and survive. Students at ISPS are blessed to have the opportunity to learn each day under the support of professional teachers and loving family.  They are allowed to explore possibilities and ultimately choose their own path in life.

Each year, ISPS guidance classes help students focus on themselves as they hone the skills needed to make thoughtful decisions for their future.

Grade 6-9 guidance students are studying personality styles of themselves and others.  Knowing one’s own personality is a key factor in college and career planning. Throughout the upcoming months, Grade 8 and 9 students will apply this knowledge to academic and career exploration.

Most students know about high profile jobs depicted on television and in movies (e.g., doctors, lawyers, engineers, nurses, teachers), but are unfamiliar with jobs of the future (e.g., cyber security, data analyst, epidemiologist, and agronomist). They will learn that advances in technology and automation may mean that upwards of 50% of current jobs will no longer exist or will be drastically changed by 2030. 

As a result, thoughtful career choices become critical to ensure job security for the future. Students will not be deciding a single life path during their high school years; however, exploring interests, aptitudes, and personalities will help inform their future decisions.  As they research possible careers, they begin to learn how thoughtful choices in high school can create more and better choices after high school. 

Career activities are designed to prime their thinking and will be critical later in the semester when we select high school classes for next year. Information sessions will be offered for parents and students regarding high school registration later in the semester.  If you have questions regarding career trends or our class activities, please send me an email at jsteinbach@isps.edu.tt