Time and Excitement: What do they have in common?

I've been keeping up with quite a few social media sites lately; three Facebook pages, two Twitter accounts, two Instagram accounts, and two blogs.  Well, that's probably a bit false since I haven't REALLY been keeping up with all of them.  When you only have 24 hours in the day and hopefully eight of those hours are spent sleeping, 9-10 of those hours are spent commuting or at work, and then there's a household you have to run and people to feed, well, you tend to run out of time.  Needless to say, some of my sites have been neglected.  For several months.

As a student, I'm sure you're feeling the same pressure.  School, work, family obligations, play time, a lot of things on your plate and you wonder where you can fit in just one more thing?  Then I bombard you with thoughts about major and career exploration.  Really, woman?  How do I fit this into an already cramped schedule?  Believe me, I make excuses every single day about why I can't post something on a social media site or why I haven't written anything in the last few months.  I'm right there with you.  I feel that crunch for time.  But I had a great experience that I want to share with you.

This past weekend, Friday night to be exact, my daughters and I were driving home after a successful shopping trip to purchase Real Salt Lake Soccer gear (we didn't want to miss our SLCC Soccer team being recognized during half time at the Saturday RSL game) and we were just giddy.  Maybe it was the shopping.  Maybe it was the milk shakes and french fries we just consumed.  Whatever the case, we were in a creative mood and we began discussing writing a fan fiction story based on the Twilight series.  This all began with a debate about who was the best Batman and Joker.  I claimed it was the old school Michael Keaton/Jack Nicholson combo.  My girls said Heath Ledger as the Joker but they weren't impressed with Christian Bale as Batman.  Of course they have not seen the older version so that will be viewed this coming weekend and the debates will continue then.  But the creative juices were flowing.  The conversation then switched to Twilight (please don't ask how we went from Batman to vampires) but it did.  And we started bouncing ideas off of each other.  My oldest daughter had the initial thought about the fan fiction and we all jumped in with our ideas in a very spirited conversation.  Man, that was one of the greatest creative discussions I've ever had in my life!  And guess what?  Last night (Sunday) I wrote almost 3,000 words (5 pages) of a fan fiction story based on our Friday night discussion.  And the story has been saved on a flash drive so if my daughters want to add to or change things, they are free to do so.

What does this have to do with major and career exploration?  Excitement.  That's it.  The anticipation of figuring out your life goals and putting those plans into action.  Being excited after taking the free MBTI and receiving the interpretation and your results, then going off into the sunset to explore, discover, decide!  I see that excitement in students' faces when we review their results and they see a few items on their list that they a) have been thinking about for quite some time or b) hadn't thought about but see a renewed energy in the possibilities of this new program idea.  What happens when we're excited about something?  We put our energy into it.  Then it becomes the 3,000 word story that is developing and all you can think about is what comes next?  And you're excited for the next day to continue the process of discovery.  (To be honest, if I could write all day/night long without having to worry about getting up in the morning to go to work, or eating, or sleeping, or being social, I would totally do that.)  Now that you're eagerly rubbing your hands together because the light bulb has become this bright beacon over your head, go out into the college world and EXPLORE!  Take the free MBTI assessment and get that interpretation completed ASAP (they'll be gone soon, at least the free ones).  Sign up for TypeFocus, take the personality assessment, then explore occupations.  Check out Career Coach and type in some career ideas.  Find out the salary ranges, job tasks, and job outlook.  Answer the classic questions regarding careers:  How much will I get paid, what will I be doing, and can I get a job?  Check out our Activities Tab and find out what you can do that will take 10 minutes or less to accomplish each day.  If I can write 3,000 words in two hours, you can certainly carve out 10 minutes in your day to explore majors and careers.  Especially if you're feeling the excitement!  Ready?  Set?  GO!

Speaking of writing, check out this website!  They collect stories from students and publish a journal each year.  If you have some great story ideas, poetry, photography, or visual art, look at the website for details and deadlines.  Or just browse through current and past entries.  There are many talented people in our sphere.  Why not share your story with our college community!

How many hours do you spend looking at social media?

As I updated the "Weekly Activities" and "Did You Know" tabs on Friday afternoon, I realized there were so many things happening at our college in the same week.  And then I thought about the student perspective.  With classes, homework, work, family life, and extracurricular activities, where do students fit in time for more things?  And how does this affect the time taken for major and career exploration? 

We answer this very important question with a simple answer:  100 Days of Career Exploration.  We understand that you have so many things on your plate but need to choose a major as early as possible in your college career.  Changes in math pathways and limitations on financial aid funding are key motivators for students to choose a major early but where do you fit that discovery process in the middle of your very busy schedule?  Would you be able to commit to 10 minutes a day for 100 days?  Smaller chunks of information but all heading towards to the ultimate goal of choose a major and career path?  WHAT?!  That's possible?  Why yes, yes it is.

Many of the activities recommended during the 100 Days of Career Exploration Campaign take 10 minutes or less to complete each day.  And we give you the weekend off although we highly encourage you continue exploration whenever you have a chance.  But 10 minutes a day?  The U.S. consumer averages 4.7 hours per day on their phones which include browsing through social media sites (http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/informate-report-social-media-smartphone-use/).  That's about one third of our day spent looking on our phones.  So how about trading some of those hours and substituting it with major and career exploration activities like researching careers through Career Coach (https://slcc.emsicareercoach.com/), or interviewing someone in a job field you are interested in, or job shadowing/volunteering?  I find myself becoming lost in social media as I scroll through stories and look at pictures.  I find myself amazed at how much time passes.  And then I think about what I COULD HAVE done with that time.  I encourage you to shave down some of the social media time (unless you're browsing through our #100daysSLCC sites) and take some time to explore majors and careers.  Once you've successfully completed your educational pathway and are working in a fulfilling career, you could have time for social media.  Or hiking.  Or enjoying some family time.  Whatever you choose, start now with major and career exploration!

How do you get involved on campus?  Ask these ladies in Student Life and Leadership who are student leaders and making moves to make our college fun, accessible, and open to all!

http://www.slcc.edu/sll/index.aspx 

Choices and More Choices

I've had several students in the past few months who are undecided on a major and simply can't make a choice.  They've taken the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment, they know their personality and careers that match, they've completed some research, but they just can't pin it down.  Or maybe they don't want to?  At some point, we have to overcome our fears and just pick SOMETHING.  Personally, I can offer many resources but at the end of the day, I can't make the choice for another person.  And I'm afraid that's what some students want.  They want someone to just tell them what to do, who to be, what to study, what classes are the best.  But it's not that easy.  It's not black and white.  It's not crystal clear.  It's a process.  And a process takes time, energy, research, and yes, even some soul searching.

My spouse is going through this process right now.  He's looking at changing careers.  A complete turnaround to what he's been doing for the past 20 years.  And it's scary.  The thought of going into something where you don't know if you'll be successful or even like the field is intimidating.  I get that.  I completely understand.  From someone who has never worked in her field of study, I know.  But I took what I learned from my degree, and I used it to my advantage.  And yes, I'm happy with my choice but it was definitely a journey, to say the least.  With my spouse, the biggest worry is monetary.  He would have to take a significant pay cut to pursue a career that he may or may not like.  But hey, he can always go back to his current field.  Right?

I tried areas in the past that matched with my personality.  Areas that are listed on my MBTI results. I did not take the MBTI assessment until I began my career in academic and career advising but if I had the results in the past, I might have made different decisions.  Or I may have gone down the same path.  It doesn't matter at this point.  The fact is I tried different things.  Some careers I liked for a while but then began to become disenchanted for various reasons.  Others I tried out of necessity but knew I would not stay very long, only as a matter of convenience.  I have a great story of "been there done that" and I'm sure students are going through these same scenarios.

Choosing a major and career path is not easy.  No one ever said it would be.  You have to work at it.  Try things out for size.  Be willing to change paths early and sometimes later on.  Know that any knowledge you gain in the process will manifest down the road in any career you pursue.  Knowledge is power.  That's the truth.  No matter which major and career you choose.  But please, choose something.  Soon.

Come visit us at the Resource Fairs going on this week at SLCC:
Wednesday, 9/7, West Valley Center, Main Lobby
Thursday, 9/8, Taylorsville Campus, Student Center  
Friday, 9/9, South City Campus, East Entrance Foyer

 

#100daysSLCC Fall 2016 Kick Off

SAVE THE DATE!!!

It's the afternoon of a career development conference and after lunch.  We all know the scenario.  Our bellies are full, we have to sit for another two hours to listen to yet another speaker, and the sun is shining outside drawing us to thoughts of the upcoming weekend.  Then the afternoon keynote starts joking about speaking at the Adobe building but having technical issues.  This was a clue that maybe, just maybe, this speaker would keep us on our toes.  And she did more than that.  She kept us on the edge of our seats.  Totally and completely engaged.  She had us laughing, nodding our heads, snickering, and really thinking about our workplace and the people with whom we work.  And the best part?  She's coming to SLCC!  Whether you're a millennial, work with millennials, or want to know how generations can work together (and be happy), you don't want to miss this!  Did I mention we'll have some interesting resources to help with major and career exploration?  And some candy? And I know of a couple of classes that are giving extra credit if you attend.  Don't miss out!