This week’s reading on Career Development in Postsecondary Education Institutions (Brown, 2012) showcased the importance of students pursuing opportunities that involve career planning at the college level.  Brown (2012) discusses a variety of modalities to ensure that college level students are getting the career counseling needed for good decision making. 

     When thinking back at the beginning of my postsecondary education, I went to a community college, Penn State York.  Never once in college did I seek out career counseling support.  I’m not sure if it was even offered when I went to school, but after reading the text, most institutions have a career counseling center.  I think now…did I just avoid seeking out knowledge about career or was it not available?  After spending 2 years at the York campus, I moved up to State College and finished by Bachelor’s Degree.  Still at the larger university, I never sought out assistance in career development.  Back then I thought this was a personal decision and I would discover what I wanted to do possibly through chance.  In college, I wanted to uncover things on my own without the help of others-these independent feelings of making decisions on my own were at my forethought.  I don’t remember my parents talking to me about career…after college it was important to have a job not so much a career, as if career was far away…in that I’m too young for a career.  I graduated from college when I was 21 years old.  I have been with this same agency for 17 years…I wonder if I had some career counseling, would I be in a different job/career now. 

     This class has certainly opened up my eyes to the world of decision making and careers.   I think that classes such as this one should be mandatory for students.  Brown (2012) discusses career development programs, and resource centers as important components to postsecondary educational institutions, but it almost seems like it should be mandatory or a part of the general education component for graduation.

      I like the various activities that Brown (2012) discussed in the text as well.  Peer counseling seems like a great idea for a number of reasons.  It would not only give vital career information to the student seeking the counseling, but it would also enhance the knowledge of the student giving the information.  It seems like a win-win situation.  These peers would have adequate training from professionals in order to deliver appropriate counseling to the students.  I wonder if these peer counselors have higher success rates with finding career paths that bring them success.

Brown, D. (2012).  Career information, career counseling, and career development.   New York: Pearson Inc.