Activity 21

Discussing Aspirations and Goals

What Students Do

Students discuss their interests, aspirations, and possible careers in the future with a trusted adult. Using stimulus questions and a worksheet to organize their thoughts, they write a summary of this discussion which will be used in a subsequent to develop a goal statement.

Planning

Review the suggested outline with the students and set a due date for completing the discussion. Some students may need guidance to identify an adult with whom to have this discussion. If this will impact staff in your building, limit the number of students approaching each staff member. Some students will choose to interview an adult outside the school. The discussion process will be most valuable for students who receive honest feedback. Encourage students to select people likely to be good listeners and who will offer candid feedback.

Worksheet - Activity 21 has a worksheet, Discussion Guide/Future Planning.

Introducing the Activity

This activity encourages students to talk with an adult about themselves and their future career. Although they have prepared for this activity, it may still be difficult because: 1) it asks them to visualize their lives five years after high school graduation and 2) they must discuss their strengths and limitations. Prepare the students for this activity by having them list the following:

• strengths, skills and talents they see in themselves
• jobs that interest them
• skills those jobs require

• interests
• strengths and skills
• future education
• jobs and careers