Career Counseling Profile

Name: Summer Hopkins
Age: 19
Date of Report: 4/17/15
Social History: 

Summer Hopkins is the second oldest from a family of seven kids. She has moved eight times in the last ten years, and has lived in various places in both Utah and Colorado. Her mother is a registered nurse and her father drives concrete mixers. She has always acted as the leader amongst her siblings, initiating activities such as parties and was the leader of her friends’ and family’s childhood club at a younger age. She has always had an active imagination and has never lacked drive or ambition. Despite this, Summer is unsure of her direction. She has a natural aptitude for mathematics, which has inspired school counselors, friends, and former school acquaintances to suggest that she pursue a career in STEM. However, she has always harbored a desire to explore and develop skills in creative arts. She loves to write, specifically fiction novels. Summer is currently living with her parents in Santaquin, Utah, and expects to remain in Utah for a considerable time or perhaps indefinitely.

Work History: 

Ms. Hopkins has limited work experience. She has worked at Subway and currently works at Oriental Garden as a waitress. She has had no internships and little volunteer experience outside of church service activities. Summer’s experiences in the food industry has helped her to realize her desire to associate with people in her career, excluding certain jobs in the STEM field, such as laboratory work.

Assessment Results:

Summer’s Strong Interest Inventory results identify her top three themes as ASI (Artistic, Social, Investigative). This code means that she strongly values creativity and imagination, and has a high appreciation for music and arts. Additionally, her second highest theme was Social, meaning she values cooperation and working with others. Her third theme was Investigative, indicating her curiosity as well as her interest in research and science related fields. The inclusion of Investigative in this theme code means that Summer has the potential for a STEM career. However, it is important that she consider integrating art and social elements her work as well. Her top five areas of interest, based on comparisons of average female scores, were 1. Performing Arts, 2. Religion and Spirituality 3. Healthcare Services, 4. Medical Sciences 5. Politics & Public Speaking. Because her results were similar to those of women working in the following fields, Summer should consider careers related to arts management, teaching English as a second language, music, speech pathology, etc. She should likewise avoid careers related to the following: Athletic Trainer; Florist; Mathematics Teacher; Sociology. Her results suggest that her work environment preferences seem to be fairly moderate, as she enjoys working alone and with people, enjoys academic learning, may like taking charge, may like taking a few risks, and seems to like working on a team as well as independently. Because of these results, I suggest that Summer look into jobs which, if possible, combine two of the following: arts, medicine, and occasionally working with others. On the whole, Summer feels that these results were helpful, but she disagrees with the assessment that she would dislike sociology.

Summer’s Myers Briggs/Type Focus results indicate that her personality is INFP (Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Perceiving). Introverted, in this sense, means that Summer gets re-energized when she’s alone and her energy is drained during social activities. The “N,” which represents intuition, signifies that Summer’s thinking is more abstract and less focused on plain facts. The “F,” indicates that Summer’s decisions are mostly made based on “Feeling” or emotion rather than logic. The “P” means that Summer prefers spontaneity and is flexible. These results suggest that Summer should avoid STEM related careers due to her tendency to act on feeling rather than logic and her desire to focus on abstract concepts and ideas rather than assessing factual data. She should instead consider areas such as fine arts, counselling, writing, teaching, library work and entertainment. Summer’s opinion of these results are that they seem to fit her well enough in some respects, but she thinks that her behaivior at times defies these definitions. She asserts that she is quite capable of making decisions based on logic, and that at times she relies heavily on a precise schedule.

Concluding Recommendations:

Summer is clearly not suited for a career void of artistic imagination. Both the SII and the MBTI tests indicate that she ought to include art in her career to some extent. Just what this “art” might entail, however, remains unfixed (it could mean writing, music, or visual art). Summer should keep in mind that her tendency to act based on emotions could cause her to being indecisive and frequently change her mind about her career choice based on her mood. This combined with her tendency to avoid planning could prevent her from moving forward.

In summary of the results mentioned above, Summer’s desire to work with others and individually, her appreciation for academic learning, her compatibility with women who teach English as a second language, her creative tendencies, her writing skills, etc, Summer could consider a career in teaching languages, specifically in a post-secondary education setting. She could, then, work with others through teaching, have opportunity to work alone by grading and researching, continue in academic learning, and have the opportunity creative expression through writing.

 Summer should continue her search by taking classes of interest, such as music and language classes, to help her assess her desires and talents. She should also strongly consider minoring in music.

Devotional Post 3

March 31, 2015, I attended the devotional given by Michael Brown. His topic was about a "heart check-up" of a spiritual nature. He asked several questions for his audience' consideration: "Is my heart soft?"; "Is my heart pure?"; "Do I have a grateful heart?"; "Do I have an obedient heart?"; and finally "Are we of one heart?" This was a very insightful talk.

One thing I learned which ties to career exploration is something he mentioned about covenants. He said that the best way to prepare for you future, even your temporal future (which is the point of career exploration), is to live by the covenants you made with God. He quoted what my Book of Mormon professor Dr. Hull calls the "core covenant" of the Book of Mormon, which reads: "Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land." (2 Nephi 4:4). While this may not guarantee economic success, it is an important reminder that God does look after those who keep their covenants. God is truly in control of my future, and I believe that by keeping my covenants he will help steer me on the right career path.

OCI Presentation Review

Something that surprised me at the On-Campus Internship Presentation was that an education beyond a bachelor's degree might actually be a detriment to someone's ability to get a job. Being overqualified, it seems, is a larger problem than I realized. It is important, therefore, to be completely sure that what I want to do will require an education beyond a bachelor's degree if I choose to pursue a Master's degree or Ph.D.

I also learned that while a degree and the major associated with it is important, a GPA above a 3.8 isn't necessarily an advantage, since GPA doesn't indicate whether or not one is able to apply what they learn. What is important on a resume is to have evidence of work/internship experience in which you made an impact.

Finally, I learned about on-campus internships available at BYU during Fall and Winter semesters which provide students with valuable internship experience and university credits.

Information Interview

For this project, I interviewed Dr. Kerry M. Hull, a professor of religion at BYU. This interview took place March 19, 2015. I have for some time been curious about the possibility of becoming a post-secondary teacher. The reason why I would choose this over elementary or secondary education is because I believe it would be more rewarding to me, personally, as I would continue researching and writing about something of great fascination to me. I asked Professor Hull to do the interview because I am particularly interested in foreign languages, religion and history, which seem to all be included to some extent in the religion class I am currently taking.

Background:
Dr. Hull told me that he began with a double major in French and Spanish and many minors in other foreign languages. He got his masters in applied linguistics, but switched his focus to linguistic anthropology for his Ph.D.

Work Environment:
Dr. Hull spends 8-10 hours a day in his office or classroom. Half of his day is spent writing and researching. He noted that the religion department is different because of the high demand for religion classes. So, whereas most professors teach around two classes, religion professors teach four to five. He also spends time correcting assignments and working with students. Hull stated that interacting with students via the internet consumes a surprising amount of time.

Problems:
One of the largest problems Hull noted was acclimating his lessons to the diverse students he teaches. He spends a great deal of effort learning about the students he teaches and adapting the classes accordingly. Apparently, he teaches the same material very differently to each of his classes. He also strives to relate to individual students to the best of his ability. Another challenge he described was staying current about both secular and religious academic developments.

Lifestyle:
When asked about how his work affects his lifestyle, Hull stated that there is a good deal of flexibility. Religion professors in particular are required to wear church attire, but aside from that there are few major restraints. He enjoys a degree of autonomy due to the nature of the job, which demands only that he work when students are in class. Because of this, vacation opportunities are great because he gets summers off.

Rewards:
Hull listed two passions that his job allows him to enjoy: researching/writing with the intent to publish, and teaching. He enjoys watching students progress and teaching something that will make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Salary:
At a university, Hull claims that a teacher could start out as low as $30,000 a year. On average, however, it is closer to $40,000. While the salary does increase over time, Hull states that this isn't something that one does because of money.

Potential:
When asked about his long term goals, Hull said that his goals are related to research and teaching. He does field work in Central America and makes goals about what he is going to produce (books, articles, etc) that would be useful in his field. He is also preparing to teach a New Testament class by researching and becoming sufficiently acquainted with the necessary context.

Skills:
The main skill Hull claimed was necessary in this field was diligence. Simply acquiring a Ph.D requires considerable diligence. He also said the field is very mentally engaging, and one should be prepared to exert a high amount of mental energy for the rest of their life.

Promotion:
According to Hull, the lack of jobs in this field means there is not a lot of turnover. Turnover follows a top-down pattern, with the university deciding that they no longer want someone. Positions are opened either because of this or due to retirement. The university assesses professors based on their research agenda, teaching, and citizenship (committee assignments, interaction with public, being active in the community). If one does well with these three things they will be promoted.

Industry:
Hull predicted that the industry will experience some unfortunate developments. There will be fewer full-time faculty, more emphasis on teaching and less on researching, and more graduate students teaching lower-level classes. He advised that if one wants to get a job in this field then they should quickly work towards a specialization. It is also important to be active in the scholarly community and make connections.

Demand:
While universities are the main employers of professors like Dr. Hull, he said that his skills could translate well into other areas of the workforce. With Hull's particular skills set, he could work for international businesses that need language or cultural sensitivity training done.

Job Market:
Hull said that there are several major networks that list jobs in anthropology.

Practical Experience:
According to Hull, practical experience is crucial to those with the ambition to become a post-secondary teacher. Field work, excavations, and learning languages on-site in other countries would be important if I went into Ancient Near Eastern Studies.

Allied Health Presentation Review

At the Allied Health Presentation Review, I learned important ideas which will help me in my career exploration. An example was given about an individual who was interested in many things and was afraid of what opportunities he would lose by choosing only one path. A question something like this was asked: "are you waiting to find the perfect career before you dare to begin?" The answer for me was yes. I now realize that I need to take action now and not be afraid to try something, even if I'm not perfectly sure it's what I want. Success in my academic path will require a combination of patience and boldness. I must accept that I can't predict exactly where I will end up, but that shouldn't stop me from moving forward with the best plan I have in the present. Understanding this is a huge relief.

Devotional Post 2

Last week, I attended the Devotional given by Kent F. Richards. Richards spoke about how relating Christ's life to our own, we can learn important lessons to guide us in our own personal path.

He started off by saying that we must each walk our own personal path, and that we shouldn't compare our path to those of others. He also pointed out that no one knows our hopes, dreams, and our life's path better than God.

Richards listed four examples Christ set during his life that can help us as we walk our own life's path. First, Christ learned from his experiences. Specifically, he learned obedience to Heavenly Father. Richards talked about the importance of those first thirty formative years for Christ, emphasizing that the formative years for people my age are likewise important. He talked about the significance of small or daily choices and the impact these can have on one's life. He explained that the future will unfold one step at a time, even if in the present you don't have a clear picture of it.

Second, Christ grew, and "increased in wisdom... and stature." Richards explained that an individual's growth is personal, and not defined by external appearance. He described what he termed "customized curriculum," or that which we each personally need to learn. He said we need to determine what is important and do it, no matter what the costs or difficulties are. Hardship, he said, is essential for growth. He also listed patience, gentleness, and long suffering as attributes which should be applied and cultivated.

Third, Christ waited on the Lord for the time when his ministry should begin. His subjection to his Father's will required patience. As part of being patient, Richards said we should remain diligent daily. We shouldn't be so focused on the future that we forget to do what we are supposed to in the present. We should also not wait to know the end for certain before we begin. He also warned not to make things all about yourself.

Fourth, Christ made covenants and received ordinances. Richards spoke of the importance of covenants, and how God can only bless us after we make and keep covenants. He stressed the importance of the temple, especially for the young, stating even that the temple may be more important to the young than to the old.


In closing, Richards assured that though we may feel lost and afraid, by looking to the Lord he will guide us in the right path. Jesus Christ is the answer in every circumstance.

This devotional was very helpful to me, as it enabled me to put things in better perspective. It reminded me that if I have faith and counsel with the Lord, my life, education and career will work out the way it is supposed to. It also helped me realize that I don't need to know everything right now. I'm never going to know the future, so I should be patient and understand that one big choice is probably not going to cause irreversible consequences with regards to my career. More than likely, it will be an accumulation of little choices that make the biggest difference, so I should focus more energy on making the best decisions in the present.

The advice I would give to someone else based on this devotional is that while you may think you're alone in determining your career, you're not. Take comfort in knowing that you need not fear the future if you do your best to seek the Lord's counsel and guidance.

Occupational Research Project

The occupation I chose to research was teaching post-secondary education. This occupation has many benefits, but it also requires a lot of dedication and schooling.

Typical Tasks:
Instructors in this field have a number of tasks. They prepare syllabi, lectures, class materials, etc.,  give lectures, guide class discussions, and make themselves available for regular office hours. They must also prepare and grade exams and other assignments. They regularly revise instruction methods and materials and select curriculum and textbooks for the classes they teach. They are required to stay up to date about new information in their subject area, do research and write articles, books, etc.

 Working environment:
The work would be done indoors, with some time being spent both in a classroom and in the office during their regular office hours. Usually, classes would be taught during the day, but there might also be opportunities to teach at night. Adequate time would also have to be allocated to conducting research.

Skills:

There are a number of skills necessary to be a post-secondary teacher. For example, teachers must use critical thinking, and be able to adapt their curriculum to fit the needs of students. They also must be adept at writing. 

Typical Interests:

The interests had by post-secondary teachers vary with the subjects they teach, but I think the interests of people in this occupation would include the desire to attain knowledge and experience social interaction. 

Requirements:

Most of the time, a Ph.D is required in order to become a post-secondary teacher. Depending on the subject, teaching experience or research experience may be required. Licenses or certificates may also be needed for certain fields. BYU currently offers a number of Ph.D. programs, most of which are science-based. It also offers several psychology programs, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Marriage, Family, and Human Development. 

Employers and Location:

Since the employers for those in this occupation are universities and colleges, it would be necessary to live in an urban area with a nearby post-secondary school. This requirement is not adverse to my desired lifestyle, however. 

Financial Concerns and Stability:

Financial stability and benefits are also good. The average pay is  $68,970 and the range is from about $58,000 to $100,000. Nationally, this field is projected to grow about 19% in the next ten or so years -- a higher rate than usual. In Utah, job openings for this occupation are also expected to grow at a faster rate than average, with a 4% annual increase in the Provo area and a 3.6% annual increase in the Salt Lake area. If a post-secondary teacher can obtain a tenure, it will ensure secure employment for a number of years. It is also possible to advance to a dean or administrator.

Effects on Lifestyle: 

 I think this job could accommodate my preferred lifestyle since the schedule outside of lecture and office hours is very flexible and part time work would be an option. Because of this, I would have the option to work less to accommodate the needs of my family but would also be able to work more hours if additional financial support was needed.

Personality Relation:

My MBTI type is INFP, which I believe would fit nicely with this occupation. While INFP's have some difficulty with oral communication, I believe that is something I am capable of improving. INFP's have good empathy in general, which I think would translate well as a teacher.  INFP's are introverts, but much of the work is done alone. 

Related Occupations:

 Historians and Archeaologists/Anthropologists are related to this occupation because both require extensive education (a master's degree) and both participate in researching and analyzing.

Additional Information:

A website that may be helpful for further research is the United States Department of Labor website: http://www.dol.gov/