Your child can be successful and happy on the path to a fulfilling career, and you can help
It’s never too early to have conversations about the future with your teens, especially if you want your children to make the most of their college education and zero in on a field that is lucrative and interesting to them. With careful planning they can be both successful and happy.
Dr. Marina Claudio majored in Spanish and pre-med studies at DePaul University. “Many people wondered, ‘Why Spanish?’” said Claudio, who is Russian American. She says she always loved the language and Latino culture, and majoring in Spanish was fulfilling both a passion and a practical purpose. Today she works with Latino patients in Chicago’s Logan Square area.
“In today’s world, the most successful professionals will be those who have a calling to the profession that they enter,” said James Montoya, vice president for Higher Education Relationship Development at the College Board and former vice provost for student affairs at Stanford University.
The top three intended majors listed by 2009 Latino seniors who took the SAT® college entrance exam were in the health professions, business and engineering.
“It’s great if a student becomes a financial consultant or a computer engineer; however, parents should be careful not to pressure their children into careers mainly for financial gain,” emphasized Montoya. “They should also encourage their children to explore their passions.”
Most students will need to invest time and effort to discover their interests. One of the best ways is through internships, which expose students to the day-to-day realities of a particular profession. Often, internship experiences lead to jobs.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s job growth projections were examined by U.S. News and World Report in “The 50 Best Careers of 2010.” The article highlights positions that will add jobs in the next decade and provide an above-average median income. The list includes jobs representing a wide range of majors.
For example, a graduate with any bachelor’s degree can break into entry-level event planning. The median pay for meeting and convention planners was $44,260 last year, and earnings ranged from about $25,000 to $75,000.
Other growing occupations mentioned in the report were veterinarian and meteorologist. For kids who love animals or get a thrill out of hurricane-force winds, these might both be incredibly interesting and provide a good income.
There are also many professions, such as X-ray technician, that require two-year or vocational degrees. According to the article, health care professions have shown resiliency in this economy, and there will be continued demand in this area.
“The key to helping your child find a fulfilling career is to understand what their interests are by seeing what they like doing, reading and talking about,” said Renée Gernand, director of College Planning Services for the College Board. “Talk to your children about how they would like to spend their workday, and then research college majors that would enable them to fulfill those dreams,” added Gernand.
Resources for Career Guidance
The College Board’s Book of Majors is the only book that describes every major — from physics to equestrian studies — and lists all the colleges that offer them. It can be found in libraries and bookstores, or ordered online at collegeboard.com or by calling 800-323-7155.
Students who have taken the PSAT/NMSQT®, a practice exam for the SAT, can also access a free online tool called My College QuickStart™ (www.collegeboard.com/quickstart). This fun site lets students take a personality assessment to help find careers that match their interests.
For more information, visit www.collegeboard.com/padres.
This post is also available in: Spanish
