Target Audience
Connected: Careers for the Future is designed for young people of color in high school and college. Students at many levels can benefit from this complete program. It can be used by teachers, counselors or by just about anyone who wants to motivate and introduce young people to the many contemporary, global career opportunities that exist.
Program Objectives
1. To make students of color aware of some of the unique career opportunities that exist for them worldwide.
2. To inspire students to make a connection between themselves and a career.
3. To motivate students to begin to plan for their future.
Program Components
1. A video entitled Connected: Careers for the Future
2. Four duplicating activity masters to be reproduced for participants
3. A guide that includes:
 An introduction stating the purpose of the program.
Suggested techniques for presenting the materials.
Follow-Up suggestions to expand the message of each handout.
4. An Internet site with further information about scholarship, grants, etc.
Activity One: Self-Assessment 101
This activity is designed to help young people assess themselves. In order for them to begin to think about what type of career they want to have, they must think about their interests and what makes them special. This activity master contains a list of questions your students can answer regarding their interests, cultural identity, countries they would like to live in and what makes them happy. Students will find this activity exciting and challenging as they explore themselves and their individuality. After they complete this activity they can share their answers with their peers.
Follow-Up Activity
1.The teacher/director can collect the activity sheets and then begin reading an answer from each one. Students can then try to guess whose answer/response it was. This assignment will help them see if their peers' perception matches their own perception of themselves.
Activity Two: Presenting...
This activity is designed to help students hone their presentation skills. Have them find a partner and use the questions provided on the activity master to conduct an interview. Tell them to pretend that they are interviewing for any job of their choice. Remind the class to express themselves clearly and to watch their body language. After students complete the activity they can practice their presentation skills by introducing their partner to the class.
Follow-Up Activity
1.Students can use their information from the interview to write a biography or profile of their partner.
Activity Three: From Here to There: The Master Plan
This activity is designed to show students that their dreams are possible and they can begin to shape their future. Most students dream about what they want to do, but they do not know how to turn their dream into a reality. This activity master contains a success ladder with space for students to write their plan for each step (steps will represent years): for example, the student can write "get an internship" or "find a mentor." This activity will help students at every level begin to think in terms of the future.
Follow-Up Activity
1.Students can write a summary of their five year plan and share it with their peers.
Activity Four: Resources
This handout contains a list of scholarship information. It is designed to show students the unique scholarship opportunities that exist for them.
Follow-Up Activity
1.The teacher/director can arrange a trip to a career fair or a trip to the career department at their local library. Students can then find additional information about career paths and scholarships.
|
