During the first night of class, we were asked to list three
words that come to mind when we hear the term “career development”. My first thoughts initially were to describe
career development in terms of the process such as decision-making, skill
development, and goal attainment; however after reading Chapter 1, I could not help but acknowledge the importance and significant role of
the economy (Brown, 2012). It is evident how vastly shifts in the economy impact the number
of jobs, the availability of jobs, the number of people employed, the types of
jobs that are in demand etc. All of these characteristics ultimately influence the
field of career development. Another thought that came to mind when thinking of
career development related back to my experiences in graduate school. During my
second year in the clinical program, I had considered switching to the school
psychology program; however, after mulling over this decision for an entire
semester, I realized that my skill set would be entirely focused on the various
responsibilities performed by a school psychologist. While this is currently a
mandatory position in schools, it is likely that it will be cut in upcoming
years as budgets are diminishing, and schools can no longer afford to keep
school psychologists on staff. With the ever-changing needs of society and the
economy, I was left wondering what I would be able to do if this job was no
longer required in schools, and I ultimately decided that it wasn’t a good
option given the future state of the economy.
In
addition, the class exercise also got me thinking about how I ended up where I
am today, as a graduate clinical psychology student, and what I plan to do in
the future. My interest in psychology initially began after taking an
introductory course in high school. Having an enthusiastic and passionate
teacher who fostered my interests and strengths solidified my decision to study
this field at the undergraduate level. While in college, I envisioned myself
one day being like each of my professors. They were knowledgeable, experienced,
and intriguing. I found myself continually wanting to learn more. Again, my
professors fostered my growth and encouraged me to continue my education which
has led me to the place I am now. Although I’m not entirely sure of where my
career may lead, I am certain that my passion lies in helping others, especially
children, and I would love to one day teach at my alma mater so I, too, can
encourage others to pursue their interests and passions in life.
References
Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and
career development (10th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.
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