The beginning of chapter one where Brown (2012) writes of the United States decline in purchasing power reminded me of the work I did while an undergrad for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and my university’s Student Labor Action Project (SLAP). I was able to gain firsthand experience meeting with individuals struggling with debt, experiencing difficulty paying bills, and the constant fear of losing their homes. Upon reading the unemployment statistics of the United States, I am definitely worried as to what I should expect upon graduating and entering the job market. I found the examples of people about to begin to look for a job, especially the first bullet point, reminded me of my own family. I am the first person in my immediate and extended family to attend undergraduate and graduate school. Although my parents are proud of my accomplishment, they were unable to help me in any way financially as my father is the only income provider.
The need for a new model of career development (Brown, 2012) is imperative because not everyone has the opportunity to obtain the same opportunities depending on factors such as gender and race. Career development must take into account that individual differences are the norm and an individual’s position within society weighs heavily on their opportunities. The option put forth by Blustein, McWhirter, & Perry (2005) of “emancipatory communitarianism” would be the ideal model because it supports diversity among the population which is especially of importance to the United States as the number of African American, Hispanic American, and Asian American workers compared to whites continues to grow. Not only differences in race, but economic status further divides the experiences individuals will encounter depending on their personal background.
While reading the sections explaining the services pertaining to career development I fully agreed that there is a need for career services (Brown, 2012). Upon leaving my previous university, I was unable to find any assistance offered on campus for graduate students approaching degree completion. My advisor also expressed that finding a job would be incredibly difficult for me with the field of study I had focused on for the past two years. I am excited to learn more throughout this course as the past 4 months have been filled with some unexpected changes to my schooling and career interests. I also agree with Brown (2012) that work is not only a means of paying for things we need in life but also a way in which people are able to acquire further meaning and importance in their lives.
Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
No comments:
Post a Comment