TMP-Marian students prepare for future with career exploration programs

On this episode of the Post Podcast Thomas More Prep-Marian counselor David Zachman stops by to talk about career exploration programs in the Hays Catholic Schools.

 

Transcript:

EDITORS NOTE: Transcripts are provided by an automated service and are not verified for accuracy.

 

James Bell 

Preparing for life after high school is more complicated than ever, for our Catholic schools report, Thomas More Prep-Marian, counselor, David Zachman stops by to share ways that they help prepare kids for the future on this episode of the Post Podcast,.

 

David Zachman 

seniors need to be filling out college applications, it's time to start financial aid that just opened up October 1, so and then the juniors need to be getting ready for that sophomores can be looking into it. So yeah, basically, once they get into high school, we're we're trying to get him directed towards what do you think? And how can we help you get there? Very cool.

 

James Bell 

You know, and one of the things I think that's got to be influencing this is the conversations that are around, you know, the, basically the discovery of do we want to do a four year traditional college degree? Or do we want to go into a tech school? Do we want to do some sort of alternative training, maybe military, there's so many options, and it seems like the schools are just getting better and better at kind of directing those kids into what makes sense for them, rather than a one track fits all kind of function,

 

David Zachman 

right? Well, even even the workforce has changed a number of years ago. A lot of people thought, well, if you just everybody goes and gets a four year degree, that's kind of the way you need to go. But the workforce has changed. But the number of people who have a need degrees from a four year program that hasn't grown, it's still about a third of the workforce. So the middle range, I guess, where students need some sort of technical or other preparation, that is what has really grown. So more than high school, but not necessarily a four year degree. So and getting students to figure that out. That's, that's the trick. That's

 

James Bell 

my bet. So let's talk about this. So one of the ways that that kind of that this comes about is these individual plans of study, and I'm gonna let you just kind of open this up. And tell us a little bit about how this kind of

 

David Zachman 

works. Sure, a number of years ago, the State Department of Education just said, We want all schools to offer and create an individual plan of study for all their students. It doesn't have to be the exact same thing, but we want all of them to have certain pieces, we want it to be an electronic portfolio, so they can access it from anywhere. We want them to be able to take Strength Finders, and to do career interest surveys to find out more about who they are and what their strengths are and how that might fit with a job. And then we want them to be able to kind of plan accordingly with what kind of classes then do I need to take in high school that will help me complete that, and even into the beginning of their college. So those are the four things that the state of Kansas said, we need to do. And of course, we a lot of us were doing those things even before but it wasn't in quite such a uniform format format across the state. So that's kind of a general outline of what we're what we're trying to do.

 

James Bell 

Very cool. Well, let's first talk about these electronic portfolios, because that's, that's something that's come up. You know, since I was in school, we didn't have portfolios at all, we barely had electronic I think we had some some computers computers in the school, but maybe a few handful and that we were fighting over. So let's kind of talk about the details. This starts when they're, again in the freshman level, doesn't it?

 

David Zachman 

Yes, it does, at least a TMP it does. But I know that the electronic portfolios can go down into grade school, also. So they can even start with some very basic, very beginning career things as very young children. Our electronic portfolio is called Zelo X e ll Oh. And at each grade level, the students have certain lessons and they build on each other. So that you know, for the freshmen, they're learning about their personalities and what kind of study skills they can learn different kinds of career things. And then as they work up through high school, they learn more about work values and lifestyle, choosing a college even for the seniors, then we get into job interviews and and maybe career backup plans. Because as we know, the things that we think about and what we want to do that doesn't always work out. So what else can you do? What else are you thinking about? Not quite be so zeroed in on? I can only do this and that's the only thing possible. They're always related things and so we try to try to get them to think about some some variety. Also.

 

James Bell 

It's pretty rare that people stay in one career track through their entire lives at this point, too, isn't it?

 

David Zachman 

Oh definitely. It is You know, it's rare for students to just stay in college, in the original major that they started in, they tend to change two or three times they tend tend to change schools. So let them know that I think that's one of the things that that is my biggest challenge is students think, well, when we're talking about this, I have to decide, and I have to get it right. And it life doesn't work that way. I've had a number of students that kind of had that had their whole lives figured out. And after one semester in college, they changed directions, different major, and, and it worked out very well for him. So it's a it's a process, I guess, not just a checklist.

 

James Bell 

Yeah, then you but you, and I kind of think about back to, again, my school education and the tools that we had. And one of the things I remember was like, you know, the paper, you did the bubble test, and it would kind of tell you, like, hey, this might be a good career track or that one. You know, I'm wondering what the equivalent is nowadays for that?

 

David Zachman 

Absolutely. That's one of the first things that students take with this electronic portfolio is something called matchmaker. And it works just like the Holland or some of the other tests that you took. But instead of bubble sheets, you're clicking on answers on a on a computer. And basically, what it does is the same thing, it takes what you like and what you're interested in, and it matches it up with a career. And the people in that career said, Well, these are the things that I like, and I want to do. And so it just puts those two together. And it really just says, here are some things that are a good fit for what you like, and students. And sometimes parents say, but I don't want to do that. This isn't telling you, you have to do it, it's just saying, these are things that you like, think about some of these kinds of careers. And once we kind of narrow it down, we should be able to find something that's a better fit. So that's the idea of the matchmaker. And then of course, we add to that other things, their personality, their skills, again, all just pointing them into a direction. And it actually even summarizes it forum and says, These are the things the careers that really fit your interests in your skills the best. If you want to do something else completely different, you certainly can.

 

James Bell 

Very cool, you know, and I think you know, even having that, that guidance on that direction, at any point, your life is gonna be really helpful, whether or not you want to go that route, just having that insight is so valuable.

 

David Zachman 

Sure. There are just so many jobs, so many different careers, new jobs that are being created in the future that we don't even know about right now. So how do you prepare for those kinds of things. And I think one of the best ways to career for to prepare for that is just a good education and improving those, sometimes they call them soft skills are transferable skills, just being able to work with people and communicate with them and be assertive, and be organized, all of those kinds of things that will allow you to, to transfer and change and adjust and adapt with the job market.

 

James Bell 

Yeah, well, and it also keys into the educational experience too. Because if you're kind of on a track, you're thinking, you know, I think a specific job, like maybe a welder, for example, you know, if you're kind of have that mindset, you enjoy it, you know, you that might be something you're good at, that's going to completely just shift that educational track, both in the school and then post secondary, right?

 

David Zachman 

I would say so. Once students kind of target in on something, whether it's a welding a technical skill, or something that requires a another degree, they can always diversify and move into related areas. But sometimes we just don't know about those related areas. And so again, broadening that perspective and getting students to look at things, you know, in smaller communities, we see doctors and nurses and lawyers and policemen and teachers, but we don't always see a lot of the other maybe high tech or unique fields that that are great options for students.

 

James Bell 

Yeah, absolutely. And I love that piece of the evaluation of it. So as they're building those, those core schedules, they may be like going back to welding just because it's top of mind now for me, anyway, you know, like, Hey, I saw that, that sounds cool. I should try that out. And then they get in there. And they they have that hands on experience, and maybe in a in the spring class and find out now this is not actually as exciting as cool as I thought it was going to be. And there

 

David Zachman 

are things of course, students can take college credit classes in high school. We have students that go to NC K for classes for several hours a day. And a lot of them experience exactly what you were talking about. I really thought this is what I wanted to do. And some are very happy with it and want to continue on with it and others say this isn't what I thought it was. And so by the time they've get out of high school, they already have some experience And they've already sometimes narrowing down what you don't want to do is as important as what you do want to do. So giving them those experience opportunities, job shadows, being able to go to colleges and and just check those out sometimes even just for a day can help broaden those horizons and experiences.

 

James Bell 

Now, we want to talk about some of these activities that are coming up, that will help them on that track. But before we go, any other things we want to hit on about that? That four piece kind of direction that you're giving them a TMP,

 

David Zachman 

it's really just about giving students information, and then help them them helping them choose their path. Of course, the original idea was students would have this done in junior high, and then they would just follow that path through high school. But, of course, people change their minds and they continue to grow and change. So we've learned that that's just an ongoing process. And we need to be able to adapt and change with the students sinteres. One of the things that we spend quite a bit of time on at TMP, Marion is helping students to choose their classes for four years. And of course, that will change too. But giving them a focus, helping them say, Well, what is it you want to accomplish? What is your goal? What kind of a curriculum? Do you want to choose a curriculum to just graduate from high school? Do you want to choose a curriculum to help you meet qualified admissions? So you can go on to a four year public university? Do you want to meet the scholars curriculum, so you qualify for a state of Kansas scholarship. And once they've kind of chosen, this is my goal, then we can get them in the correct classes, so that they can meet that goal. And we don't have any surprises when they're seniors and say, but I didn't take this class. And I needed it. If we choose the path, and we choose the goal, and we match classes, that should be right on target. Excellent. I think you also asked sorry, I kind of went off the back there. But yes, about some other activities that we do. We start off the year with just goal setting, helping students choose what's most important to you and, and making good goals. We haven't go to college and career conferences, Hays high sponsors, one and they're kind enough to invite us to go to that. So kids can go and talk to a variety of college, military, technical representatives. And they're all right there for them. So it's very convenient, they get a lot done, sophomores do reality you, which is a wonderful experience. And in they get a profile. And in less than two hours, they have a budget, and they have to try to figure out how to make that budget work for him and get a car and pay their bills. All of those kinds of things are just kind of helped the students focus a little bit more and learn the lessons in high school. So they'll be ahead of a game once they get out of high school.

 

James Bell 

Love that. That's another tool that you know, it would have been so cool to have seen that when we were when I was I think you're a little bit older than I am when I was in school, but I see that now. And like what an eye opener every time those kids get to do that reality based training. They're like, Oh, I didn't even know

 

David Zachman 

I think they learn more in that hour maybe that maybe I shouldn't say this out loud. But they they learn more in that hour than I can teach them in an hour's just because it's so real to them. I don't have enough money. I gotta get a second job even though it's just a simulation. It's and child cares, really expensive. And a Kitson thinking about all those real life things that are such valuable