College representative urges active planning
Know yourself to find the best career fit
January 16, 2008
Cynthia Rochester, a representative from Brown Mackie College, visited with members of the junior class on Wednesday, January 9. Her primary purpose was not to promote Brown Mackie, but to simply encourage students to look at the road ahead, by actively planning for their future. A good place to begin, she said, is to visit at least three types of post-secondary schools.
She said, "Be honest with yourself. Don't go somewhere just because your parents went to a particular school, or because your friends are going there. Go where you will be the most successful."
She told the story of her father who quit school at the age 13, worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), fought in World War II, and much, much, much later in life, went on to earn his high school diploma, even a master's and a doctorate degree. Admittedly proud of his accomplishments, she noted, "It is so much easier to accomplish these things when you're younger, and much more difficult when you have a family."
In another example, Rochester asked students to consider making a journey to another state, and the things one must consider in advance of making that trip. The same consideration must be made, she said, when making plans for the rest of your life. She then asked students to take a personality trait test, by drawing a box and labeling each quadrant of the box as a particular color: upper left, orange; upper right, gold; lower left, blue; and lower right, green. As she listed the particular traits of a color, students placed a checkmark in the box. The box with the most marks suggested a tendency to be one personality type, although it is possible, Rochester said, to be a combination of colors.
Rochester said if one tends to be bossy, then he or she might be a natural for management. If they like to talk, then maybe they should consider something in human resources. "Take your natural abilities," said Rochester. "If you like what you do, you'll never work a day in your life."
For another activity, Rochester asked the juniors to invent a product within a time limitation of a minute and a half, by either drawing or writing a brief description of that product. Students then shared their ideas. She did this for a reason: "Most of the jobs you are going to do have not even been created yet." She reminded students that no one in the 1800s ever realized or dreamed that a computer would become a reality. "Take an idea and expand it as far as you can. Don't limit yourself. Ask the question why not, or your skills will become obsolete while you are still young." She also recommended that students research what kind of company or business would fit them.
Rochester later referred to the color-coded My Pyramid.gov to stress the importance of healthy eating habits: "Eating healthy improves study habits because it increases your learning capability. What you eat affects your health." She asked students to also watch their number of servings, so as not to over-consume amounts of sodium or fats. She reminded her audience that there are 10 teaspoons of sugar in just one can of soda pop.
In her last activity, Rochester asked students to study a picture for 60 seconds, and then recall what they saw. She said improving one's photographic memory is a good way to prepare for state assessments: "It forces yourself to exercise your mind, memorize, and pay attention to details."
In her closing comments, Rochester noted that life happens and life changes, and students can be ready for the future by simply doing their planning now.
Cynthia Rochester returned to MdCV on January 21 to share similar advice with members of the freshmen, sophomore, and junior classes.
