Career Class: The Search For Your Passion by Anna

Career Class: The Search For Your Passion by Anna - February 2022 Scholarship Essay

One of the hardest things to think about as a modern student is what I want to do with my life. The truth is, I really do not know. I, like virtually every other student in the world, am undecided, and I think that, with the guidance of experienced teachers, we can become decided.

With technology constantly transforming the economic landscape, many jobs currently available today will become obsolete; however, many new ones will arise too. In this elective, teachers will lead students through guided research of various disciplines, with the ultimate goal of teaching students how to advocate for themselves and discover their purpose.

When I research careers on my own, I become overwhelmed with the wealth of opportunities. I panic and begin to question whether average income, location, or passion matter most. With the help of this class, teachers can connect students with reliable resources and help them figure out potential jobs of interest.

With the course load from other classes, it is often difficult for students to find the motivation to think about abstract and complex ideas such as predicting their own future. In taking this class, students will receive accountability in their search and be offered the chance to really dedicate a significant portion of their time on self-reflection.

The first job of this class will be to help students determine what they actually like. A problem that some students have is that they have things they like and things they think they should like. Many students who do not consider themselves “undecided” often are stuck pursuing a path that they did not choose for themselves. While there are benefits to following a traditional path like medical school, it is important that the student takes time to understand themselves better.

Once a student knows their passion and true interests, the next step is to narrow in on one of these or find a job that combines a variety of disciplines. A typical homework assignment in this class could be to choose a broad sector of jobs relating to a subject the student is interested in, such as math, and finding three potential specific jobs that look interesting. By searching just by interest, students will end up with upwards of fifteen interesting careers after just a week of homework.

One major test in the class could be to take those classes researched for homework and then begin to narrow them down by average salary and likelihood of existing in 2030 to make a presentation about the day in the life of that career.

The final project will be to create a job that doesn’t exist and describe what the position entails. As the generation of future creatives, not only will this exercise work to help us brainstorm future pursuits, but it will help us gain the skills necessary to innovate to create even when the future seems uncertain.

Some students may still end up being undecided; that is okay. The most important part of this elective will be to jumpstart the thinking required to make a smart life plan. That exploration is ultimately what will lead them to their true passion. Having those tools alone will set students up for success in the future.