WELL Blog

“Winter Is Coming”…
And the future is not far behind
by Gaines Weaver

     As the weather gets colder and signs of fall surround us, it can be helpful to observe what nature is up to. Squirrels are burying nuts for the coming of winter. Leaves change color and flutter to the ground. Why? They know that to survive the winter and thrive when spring comes, they have to prepare for the future. Come winter, the squirrel will curl up in her nest and venture out only to dig up her buried treasure. Instead of pushing out new branches and green leaves in a weak winter sun, the tree saves its energy until the warmth of spring arrives.

     If a squirrel waits until January to gather nuts for winter, it may be more difficult to find food. Likewise, if a teenager waits until the last minute to plan for college or a career, their options may be limited and they may become way more stressed. Here at the Community Counseling, Education, and Research Center (CCERC), we explore career interests and personal wellness with teens, adults, and families. This fall, we’ve been working with many WELL students on career exploration as they prepare for life after high school.

Parents, guardians, and teachers can support these efforts by asking students whether they’ve taken a career assessment at the WELL and what they thought about the results. The assessments are intended to help students think about their interests, skills and goals in a more organized and concrete way. If your student hasn’t taken a career assessment and is interested in exploring their career interests, contact us at CCERC and we can set up a no-cost career survey and career development session for any public school student.

We’ve learned that some teenagers know exactly what they want to do and are already mapping out the steps to get there. These students just need some support and encouragement. But for most adolescents, trying to figure out what to do after high school or what to study in college can be daunting and overwhelming. Career assessments can help to provide some basic direction; but, they aren’t enough. Asking teens what they are interested in, what they know (and don’t know) about the range of careers out there, and what values they hold about work can go a long way in helping teens discover more about what they want for their futures. It’s helpful to sit down with teens to ask what career paths they are thinking of pursuing, what obstacles they think may get in their way, and what support they need to try those paths. Showing genuine interest in what a teen is interested in is one of the surest ways to encourage them toward success.

If you or a teen you know would like more information about career counseling or personal counseling, contact us at ccerc_admin@ncsu.edu or by phone at 919.856.9233 ext. 107. You can also access our website: go.ncsu.edu/ccerc.